Today's Pod Projection is the Orioles young third sacker, Manny Machado. In his first full season, the sophomore accumulated a mightily impressive 6.2 WAR. Unfortunately, his season ended with a serious knee injury that required surgery. As a result, he may not be ready for opening day and the uncertainty is reducing his draft cost.
Last season, Machado recorded 710 plate appearances, which tied for the seventh highest total in baseball. Remaining healthy (nearly) all season, while batting second for a solid lineup contributed to the inflated total. But his recovery from surgery now clouds his outlook and it's anyone's guess when exactly he's healthy enough to be in the lineup. Of course, even when he does return, you never know if he will have additional health problems during the season related to the knee.
It's a smidgen worse than the 15.9% mark he posted last season, but a sustaining of the improvement he made from his 2012 debut. He generally posted mid-teen strikeout rate marks in the minors and posted slightly above league average Contact% and SwStk% marks.
This distribution is essentially his career average that includes his 2012. The line drive rate is a bit higher due to the fluky low 13.9% mark he posted in 2012 that is dragging down his average.
This was one of the areas Machado seemingly got lucky in as he hit pop-ups at the eighth highest rate among all qualified hitters. As we know, pop-ups are essentially automatic outs, so it's difficult to maintain a high BABIP when such a high rate of your batted balls are assured of finding gloves. Machado posted the highest BABIP among all qualified hitters with at least a 15% IFFB%. Of that group, the unweighted average BABIP was just .286 (Machado posted a .322 mark). Furthermore, he posted sub-.300 BABIP marks at every minor league stop (excluding his small sample stint at Low-A in 2010). While all this seems to suggest that maybe a .300 BABIP might actually still be too high, he did hit a solid rate of liners and has enough speed to take advantage of his ground ball tilt.
He posted a somewhat disappointing 7.9% mark last year and generally didn't show a whole lot of home run power in the minors either. However, his xHR/FB rate was a much better 12.6%, as he pulled the ball frequently and tended to mix in shorter fly balls with longer bombs, which lead to more homers than if he had consistently been average. While many will predict that some of his American League leading 51 doubles will turn into home runs, research suggests that this does not actually happen. Still, given his age and pedigree, one would assume his power will increase.
He was at 88 and 71, respectively, last year, but with the decline in plate appearances comes a decline in these counting stats. The Orioles lineup could look a bit different this year with question marks at the bottom of the lineup given their second base and left field battles.
Machado was successful on just six of his 13 stolen base attempts last year. I am projecting a better success rate this season, but given his recovery from knee surgery, assume he will run a bit less frequently.
Below is my final projected fantasy batting line, along with the other systems for comparison.
There's some disagreement over his batting average, while the home run projections are remarkably close (extrapolating the Steamer projection to the same number of at-bats yields about 15 home runs as well). Oliver is certainly unaware of Machado's knee injury, as it is not only projecting a better success rate on the base paths, but also the same number of attempts in 110 fewer plate appearances.
While the knee surgery has calmed the hype a bit, I still feel that Machado is massively overvalued. I'm not sure what drafters are expecting, since it's clear I'm not that much more pessimistic than the other systems. Machado's NFBC ADP is 113th overall, yet my projected line valued him as just the 203rd most valuable player in a similar 15-team league format.
We hoped you liked reading 2014 Pod Projections: Manny Machado by Mike Podhorzer!
I think people are excited about his long term projection more than single season. Great keeper league asset, not so much as a one year player.


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Beneath the Fungoid Moon
Posted on December 20, 2018 by Literary Aficionado
I have known Chuck Regan and his work for a long time. Three decades, actually. I started as a fan of his comic books, including Nether Age of Maga—a post-apocalyptic vision that's everything from Plato to P. K. Dick. His skills as an artist—he's known for his attention to detail and authenticity in his science fiction–based designs—translate successfully into prose. Regan has always had fun using made up words and he incorporates just the right amount of pop culture references in his work to give us grounding in the odd.
Regan's vision has always been dark, but with touches of comedy and hope in all the right places. He opens his About the Author section at the end of this collection by saying he's technically not an author because he has yet to publish a novel. But I've read several of his longer works in whole or in part, and "author" certainly applies. He is as much a technician of the craft of storytelling as any author I know. He's even created a workbook for writers of long-form stories called Give Your Hero Bad Breath: A Character, Plot and World-Building Workbook that I have incorporated into my starting routine for new stories.
Beneath the Fungoid Moon is a collection of seven short stories, each with an opening passage about the history of the piece. For budding writers and those who want to see how the sausage gets made for writers in the thorny world of publishing, these introductions are invaluable.
The first story in the collection is "They Bite." Before I share my thoughts, I have to say that I. Love. Tropes. I received a custom t-shirt for my fiftieth birthday this year that says, "You say trope like it's a bad thing." Tropes are our gateway into something new so that, no matter how bizarre or unfamiliar the story, there are things onto which we can grab hold. They are the mile-markers in a genre.
"The Bite" packs a lot of tropes into a tight, terrifying tale. It's got hordes of angry insects; the meta- and micro-storylines of a city defending while a family defends; plenty of psychological aspects that explore the metaphors that make good horror so resonant; the destruction wrought from economic greed; the Star Trek red-shirt expendability of emergency medical personnel; and the attempted escape in the family vehicle—to name the most prevalent.
And Regan isn't shy about it. At one point he writes, "Dan was scared his father might be losing it like they did in the old disaster movies." Because that's most likely how it would/will be when the bad stuff starts to go down. Social media will be flooded with posts saying "It's just like in… [film, book, TV show]." Because writers help society Rehearse. Call it empathy, vicarious living, willing suspension of disbelief… Robert Heinlein and other masters of sci-fi were on retainer with the Department of Defense. If they could dream it, the military–industrial–intelligence complex could build it. And they have.
"Embrace of the Jabberwock" is an homage to both the Lewis Carroll poem and the works of HP Lovecraft (of which I can only say, don't dismiss the possibility that Lovecraft was more of a reporter than a fiction writer). Regan really captures the underground nerd culture of hackers and online gaming aficionados (I have two of the latter sleeping off an all-nighter upstairs in my house as I type. Quietly…).
If Lovecraft was writing in the twenty-first-century uber-tech landscape, he would have written this story. Here we have the Web, the Deep Web with all its many horrors, and then the Beyond-the-Web, which could be a partial driver for the other two. Especially if you see in the data-eating AI tree all the grasping tentacles of Cthulhu.
This story weaves together not only Carroll and Lovecraft but films like the Matrix and Into the Mouth of Madness and the wacky world of back-alley occultists.
And we are left with the lingering question so often posed by Stephen King and perhaps evidenced in the Slenderman phenomena: can we, if we write these things well enough, actually pen them into existence? Maybe we already have.
"Friday Night Karaoke" is a riff on Purgatory. I love the focus on the nature of music to trigger memory. Regan's vivid character descriptions are fully on display. It's also a fun homage to the 1980s music scene, especially for a guy who's just turned 50—I may have mentioned that—and grew up on the iconic songs that are woven into the story. Regan also does a fine job of revealing an illuminating backstory.
The next two stories are horror Westerns, a sub-genre that I have started working in because, with the deep metaphoric landscape that has always been the heart and soul of the Western, comes plenty of opportunity and overlap to play with the mechanisms of horror. The first story, "Headhunter" uses the trope of the bounty hunter and the second, "Jester's Bliss" (which my literary website first published a version of about 10 years ago), uses as its frame the traveling carnival, although the parallel storyline of a frontier family being attacked on the trail is just as strong. Regan's sense of physical landscape and vivid detail (again showing his background in visual art) makes this a perfect sub-genre for his talents.
The final story, "Rafter Man," is a tapestry of many of the tropes in the previous stories, and is the only one told in the first person—via a Poe-esque, unreliable narrator who juices up the ride. This psychological mind-trip works well alone but is the perfect button/summation for the collection.
You can learn more about Chuck Regan and his writing, illustrations, and workbook at www.chuckregan.com. There will also be updates on some current long-form works he is creating, including a series of six novellas he describes as a "Superhero Noir."
Pay attention: You might learn something that might just save your life in the bizarro years to come.
TITLE: Beneath the Fungoid Moon: Tales of Cosmic Horror and Other Oddities
AUTHOR: Chuck Regan
PUBLISHER: Rayguns and Mayhem
KINDLE ASIN: B07KDVM1J5
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Fiction, Joey Madia and tagged chuck regan, fungoid moon by Literary Aficionado. Bookmark the permalink.

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Q: WP7 audio stream problem I'm using MediaElement to play audio mp3 stream,
 everything goes ok, but now I have mp3 stream that does not end with .mp3,
 ( http://server2.fmstreams.com:8011/spin103) and I'm getting
AG_E_NETWORK_ERROR
I found solution to add ?ext=mp3, but it didn't work for me,  any ideas?

A: If you are streaming live radio, the stream may be encoded by an IceCast server or ShoutCast server. To read these streams, you will need to decode the stream in memomry and pass it to the MediaElement once it has been decoded.
have a look at Mp3MediaStreamSource : http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/ManagedMediaHelpers
and Audio output from Silverlight
I lost tons of time on this, and this is the best solution I found so far.
You also have to be sure that while you are testing, the device must be unplugged from the computer.

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Home / Words from the wood / The Best Environmental Documentaries That Changed How We See Our Planet!
The Best Environmental Documentaries That Changed How We See Our Planet!
Jul 19, 2017 Posted by: Dany Filion Sustainability
Documentaries serve an important role in our society. Many pressing issues go under the radar when we should be discussing them openly. One of the most obvious issues where we have seen this is to do with the environment. Although there is a constant dialogue in society about the dangers of climate change, it's rare that the true scale of the issues breaks through to the mainstream.
This is where environmental documentaries play a vital role. They help bring the sometimes shocking truth into mainstream conversations and also inspire people to commit to changes in their own lives. We've compiled a list of the most powerful documentaries that changed how we see our planet!
Food, Inc. (2008)
Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner examines how mammoth corporations have taken over all aspects of the food chain in the United States, from the farms where our food is grown to the chain restaurants and supermarkets where it's sold. Narrated by author and activist Eric Schlosser, the film features interviews with average Americans about their dietary habits, commentary from food experts like Michael Pollan and unsettling footage shot inside large-scale animal processing plants.
Dirt! The Movie (2009)
The film explores the relationship between humans and soil, including its necessity for human life and impacts by society. Dirt! The Movie was an official selection for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and won several awards, including the best documentary award at the 2009 Visions/Voices Environmental Film Festival and the "Best film for our future" award at the 2009 Mendocino Film Festival
General Orders No. 9 (2012)
One of the lesser known yet no less stunning environmental documentaries on this list, General Orders No. 9 is an absolute beauty to behold.
Eschewing all of the standard documentary conventions and running like a visual meditation, this unique film sequence chronicles the American South's demise as the wilderness is slowly paved over. Having taken 11 years to make, cinematography doesn't get much more elegant than this.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Probably one of the most well known on the list and one of the most powerful documentaries that changed how we see our planet! Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Mr. Gore's personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. "Al Gore strips his presentations of politics, laying out the facts for the audience to draw their own conclusions in a charming, funny and engaging style, and by the end has everyone on the edge of their seats, gripped by his haunting message," said Guggenheim. An Inconvenient Truth is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry to protect the one earth we all share. "It is now clear that we face a deepening global climate crisis that requires us to act boldly, quickly, and wisely," said Gore.
Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000-pound orcas, or "killer whales," soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with their trainers. Yet, in our contemporary lore this mighty black-and-white mammal is like a two-faced Janus-beloved as a majestic, friendly giant yet infamous for its capacity to kill viciously. BLACKFISH unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who-unlike any orca in the wild-has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what exactly went wrong? Shocking, never-before-seen footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca's extraordinary nature, the species' cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades, and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry. This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals.
Before The Flood (2016)
Before the Flood is a 2016 documentary about climate change directed by Fisher Stevens.The film shows Leonardo DiCaprio (producer) visiting various regions of the globe exploring the impact of man-made global warming. As a narrator, DiCaprio comments on these encounters as well as archive footages.
There are countless documentaries that changed how we see our planet, what other films should be included in this list? Join the discussion on our Facebook Page!
Make Your Home Green With These Eco-Friendly Renovation Tips! Aug 09, 2017
Make Your Yard Greener Than Ever With These Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips! Jun 22, 2017


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Publishers, ad tech vendors are (finally) content with GDPR standards version 2.0
from Digiday
Publishers and ad tech vendors may finally have reached a compromise on what an industry standard for GDPR compliance looks like. For the most part, publishers are happy with the latest version of the IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework, the trade body's attempt to create a standard for compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation for the online ad industry. The framework, whose first iteration was rejected by publishers for being biased toward ad tech companies, has been overhauled to appease publisher gripes around controls and to encourage Google to adopt it. more


Doug Hitchcox, a Maine native, grew up in Hollis and graduated from the University of Maine in 2011. The year he graduated, he travelled to every corner of the state trying to observe as many species as possible in what is known as a 'Big Year.' He ended the year having seen 314 species in the state, a new record for Maine. Throughout college Doug worked at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center running their store and leading walks and tours. Doug was hired as Maine Audubon's Staff Naturalist in the summer of 2013, a long time "dream job" for him. In his free time, Doug is one of Maine's eBird reviewers, owner and moderator of the 'Maine-birds' listserv, York County Audubon board member, and Secretary of the Maine Bird Records Committee.
Raymond VanBuskirk is a passionate birder, environmentalist, and vegan whose love for feathered creatures (dinosaurs included) was born in the mountains of the Land of Enchantment. His career experience includes president of the Central New Mexico Audubon Society, owner and lead guide of BRANT Nature Tours (www.BrantTours.com), researcher in field and lab ornithology, ABA youth camp instructor and Birding Specialist for Leica Sport Optics. Since age seven Raymond's travels have taken him to ten countries (he's only 28) where he has had the great privilege of deepening his connection to the natural world through multi-cultural outdoor exploration. His international travel experiences have not only deepened his admiration for the natural world but have further fueled his desire to protect it and share it with all generations of humans.
Abby McBride is a sketch biologist and Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellow. She travels globally to sketch wildlife and write stories. With degrees in biology and science writing from Williams College and MIT, Abby took the obvious career path and did some farming in Spain, took up nature illustration in New York City, manned the helm of a lobster boat in downeast Maine, bird-blogged across the western United States, studied siblicidal boobies on an uninhabited Galápagos island, worked as a piano instructor and pastry chef in western Massachusetts, wrote for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, did communications for Bowdoin College and the American Ornithological Society, sketched icebergs in Iceland, sketched babblers in Borneo, sketched giraffes in Kenya, and went bicycling across eastern Europe. She recently returned from a year in New Zealand writing and illustrating stories about seabirds for National Geographic.


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Norwegian movie stars died in 1977
Here are 3 famous actors from Norway died in 1977:
Birger Løvaas
Birger Løvaas (November 17, 2014	Norway-June 5, 1977	Norway) was a Norwegian actor.
Kristian Hefte
Kristian Hefte (April 28, 1905	Hallingdal-February 24, 1977	Norway) was a Norwegian actor.
Leif Enger
Leif Enger (September 5, 1900	Oslo-November 17, 1977	Oslo) was a Norwegian actor.
Irish actors died at age 77 List of the top 2 Irish actors who died when they were 77
German actors died in 2014 List of the top 13 German actors who died in 2014
Swiss actors died in Stroke List of the top 1 Swiss actors who died in Stroke
American actresses died at age 19 List of the top 1 American actresses who died when they were 19
Japanese actors died at age 50 List of the top 3 Japanese actors who died when they were 50
French actors died in Meningitis List of the top 1 French actors who died in Meningitis


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simply suBi / This is my corner.
How AI is taking over my job. or is it ?
I am a UI designer/developer by profession. I write code to build webpages and applications. I have done a lot of it. Starting with Yahoo Geocities and Microsoft Frontpage to Dreamweaver Sites (*.ste ), Flash, PHP templates, Joomla/Drupal, Wordpress and Laravel. The landscape of web design has changed. Fast.
Unlike "Learning web design and development" in two weeks, I honed my skills over many years, sometimes because of client demand, and mostly because of self-interest.
I have had the pleasure of meeting with significant people in the industry like Dan Mall, Lee Brimelow (gotoAndLearn()) in FlashPitt, Mr. Zeldman, Jason Santa Maria (AEA) and listening to them and a host of other important people saying important things. And then putting them to practise in person and client projects.
So when someone like Grid.ai says that they can automate this process, i was excited and anxious. I wanted to see the future. The beta was a complete and utter non-sense, but i want to give this another try. Lets give it a shot. Over the next year or less, i will work on updating this site and see how it develops and builds a site around the things that i want to publish.


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Viewpoint: It's time to fix our roads and infrastructure with funding from Congress
Michigan's roads cost the average driver more than $640 every year, and not a cent of that goes toward actually fixing the problem.
Viewpoint: It's time to fix our roads and infrastructure with funding from Congress Michigan's roads cost the average driver more than $640 every year, and not a cent of that goes toward actually fixing the problem. Check out this story on lansingstatejournal.com: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/contributors/viewpoints/2019/05/16/ignoring-our-infrastructure-dangerous-its-time-fix-roads/3665340002/
Richard Trumka and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, guest writers Published 6:00 a.m. ET May 16, 2019 | Updated 12:40 p.m. ET May 16, 2019
Richard Trumka (Photo: Courtesy photo)
Bent rims. Broken springs. Bridges and roads unfit for drivers. Search #FTDR (short for "Fix the Damn Roads") on social media, and you'll find countless stories from Michiganders who are paying the price of crumbling, pot-holed roads and highways.
Michigan's roads cost the average driver more than $640 every year, and not a cent of that goes toward actually fixing the problem. The state of Michigan's infrastructure is downright dangerous. School buses full of kids cross bridges held up with temporary supports. Chunks of concrete from overpasses fly into windshields, causing injuries. We're running out of time to act.
Unfortunately, nightmare bridges and roads are just one example of how under-investment in infrastructure hurts working families — and not just in Michigan. Many of America's transit systems, airports, railways and ports — once a point of deep pride for our country — are sorely outdated and can barely keep up with demand.
Gretchen Whitmer (Photo: submitted photo)
As a result, Americans from all walks of life are suffering. Office workers endure grueling, hours-long commutes to and from work. Air travelers experience increasingly long lines at our nation's airports. Small business owners face delays getting their goods to market. And those unable to afford vehicles find it difficult to access reliable transit options.
These experiences add up to a national crisis. Failing to act on infrastructure makes the U.S. less competitive than 15 of our major trading partners and could cost us 2.5 million jobs by 2025.
This Infrastructure Week, we're calling on Congress to invest in our nation's roads, bridges, schools and more. For every dollar spent on public infrastructure, we get $3.70 back in economic growth. That's a phenomenal return on investment, putting an additional $1,400 per year back into the pockets of everyday Americans.
Viewpoint: We need to redirect tax dollars to fix our roads strategically, from Steve Japinga
A robust federal investment would ensure safe roads, sturdy bridges, clean drinking water, quality public schools, dependable transit systems and ports that can keep up with global demand. The package we need wouldn't just address our current shortfall, but help propel America forward as a global leader in the technologies and infrastructure of the future, such as high speed rail and smart utilities.
Improving our infrastructure will also help our families and communities by creating good-paying, family-sustaining jobs, lowering unemployment, raising wages and reducing inequality. This virtuous growth cycle can usher in a new era of broadly shared prosperity, and in turn, provide equality and justice within our communities. Without it, countless working families will be left to suffer the consequences — something Michigan knows all too well.
Last month marked five years since the Flint water crisis began. Michigan's recent proposal for a $120 million investment to replace lead service lines and clean up contaminated water is a critical step forward. What's more, it would immediately put hundreds of women and men to work in good-paying union jobs across the state, replacing and building pipelines so this never happens again.
Many of these jobs in infrastructure begin with a union apprenticeship. Workers receive education and on-the-job training — often at little or no cost — and afterward, they receive a career filled with dignity, opportunity, advancement and no debt.
These workers are willing and able to tackle the enormity of our nation's crumbling infrastructure crisis. But, like Michiganders and all Americans, they are waiting for the federal government to act.
While Washington debates its next move, American families are footing the bill — paying more than $3,000 every year for government inaction — and wasting the equivalent of four full days a year sitting in unnecessary traffic.
Michigan and other states are stepping up to fill in the gaps where they can, but we need federal leadership to get the job done. With 79 percent of Americans agreeing that it's extremely important to invest in infrastructure, Congress and the administration are out of excuses.
It's time to fix the damn roads.
Richard Trumka is president of the AFL-CIO and Gretchen Whitmer is the 49th governor of Michigan.
Read or Share this story: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/contributors/viewpoints/2019/05/16/ignoring-our-infrastructure-dangerous-its-time-fix-roads/3665340002/
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Utilization of image-based spectral reflectance to detect herbicide resistance in glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible plants: a proof of concept
Eric A. L. Jones, Robert Austin, Jeffrey C. Dunne, Charles W. Cahoon, Katherine M. Jennings, Ramon G. Leon, Wesley J. Everman
Journal: Weed Science , FirstView
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 December 2022, pp. 1-11
Glufosinate is an effective postemergence herbicide, and overreliance on this herbicide for weed control is likely to increase and select for glufosinate-resistant weeds. Common assays to confirm herbicide resistance are dose–response and molecular sequencing techniques; both can require significant time, labor, unique technical equipment, and a specialized skillset to perform. As an alternative, we propose an image-based approach that uses a relatively inexpensive multispectral sensor designed for unmanned aerial vehicles to measure and quantify surface reflectance from glufosinate-treated leaf disks. Leaf disks were excised from a glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] varieties and placed into a 24-well plate containing eight different concentrations (0 to 10 mM) of glufosinate for 48 h. Multispectral images were collected after the 48-h incubation period across five discrete wave bands: blue (475 to 507 nm), green (560 to 587 nm), red (668to 682 nm), red edge (717 to 729 nm), and near infrared (842 to 899 nm). The green leaf index (GLI; a metric to measure chlorophyll content) was utilized to determine relationships between measured reflectance from the tested wave bands from the treated leaf disks and the glufosinate concentration. Clear differences of spectral reflectance were observed between the corn, cotton, and soybean leaf disks of the glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible varieties at the 10 mM concentration for select wave bands and GLI. Leaf disks from two additional glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible varieties of each crop were subjected to a similar assay with two concentrations: 0 and 10 mM. No differences of spectral reflectance were observed from the corn and soybean varieties in all wave bands and the GLI. The leaf disks of the glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible cotton varieties were spectrally distinct in the green, blue, and red-edge wave bands. The results provide a basis for rapidly detecting glufosinate-resistant plants via spectral reflectance. Future research will need to determine the glufosinate concentrations, useful wave bands, and susceptible/resistant thresholds for weeds that evolve resistance.
Evidence for strain-specific virulence of Trichomonas gallinae in African columbiformes
Jenny C. Dunn, Rebecca C. Thomas, Helen Hipperson, Danaë J. Sheehan, Chris Orsman, John Mallord, Simon J. Goodman
Journal: Parasitology / Volume 150 / Issue 2 / February 2023
Infection by parasites or pathogens can have marked physiological impacts on individuals. In birds, infection may affect moult and feather growth, which is an energetically demanding time in the annual cycle. Previous work has suggested a potential link between clinically visible Trichomonas gallinae infection and wing length in turtle doves Streptopelia turtur arriving on breeding grounds. First, T. gallinae infection was characterized in 149 columbids from 5 species, sampled on turtle dove wintering grounds in Senegal during the moulting period, testing whether infection by T. gallinae is linked to moult. Trichomonas gallinae prevalence was 100%, so rather than testing for differences between infected and uninfected birds, we tested for differences in moult progression between birds infected by different T. gallinae strains. Twelve strains of T. gallinae were characterized at the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)/5.8S/ITS2 region, of which 6 were newly identified within this study. In turtle doves only, evidence for differences in wing length by strain was found, with birds infected by strain Tcl-1 having wings nearly 6 mm longer than those infected with strain GEO. No evidence was found for an effect of strain identity within species on moult progression, but comparisons between infected and uninfected birds should be further investigated in species where prevalence is lower.
"Good, honest food": older adults' and healthcare professionals' perspectives of dietary influences and preferences in older age
L.O. Mahony, E. O Shea, E.M. O'Connor, A. Tierney, N. Dunne, M. Harkin, J. Harrington, K. Tobin, S. Kennelly, E. Arendt, P. O. Toole, S. Timmons
Journal: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 81 / Issue OCE4 / 2022
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 August 2022, E130
Conservation of Galliformes in the Greater Himalaya: is there a need for a higher-quality evidence-base?
GARIMA GUPTA, MATTHEW GRAINGER, JONATHON C. DUNN, ROY SANDERSON, PHILIP J. K. MCGOWAN
Journal: Bird Conservation International / Volume 32 / Issue 3 / September 2022
Global biodiversity is at a heightened risk of extinction and we are losing species faster than at any other time. It is important to understand the threats that drive a species towards extinction in order to address those drivers. In this paper, we assess our knowledge of the threats faced by 24 Himalayan Galliformes species by undertaking a review of the threats reported in the published literature and the supporting evidence that the threat is having an impact on the species' populations. Only 24 papers were deemed suitable to be included in the study. We found that biological resource use and agriculture and aquaculture are the predominant threats to the Galliformes in the Greater Himalaya but the evidence available in the studies is quite poor as only one paper quantified the impact on species. This study shows that major gaps exist in our understanding of threats to species, and it is imperative to fill those gaps if we want to prevent species from going extinct.
The Economics of Conflict and Peace
History and Applications
Shikha Basnet Silwal, Charles H. Anderton, Jurgen Brauer, Christopher J. Coyne, J. Paul Dunne
Print publication: 24 June 2021
Buy the Element
Written for an audience of students, general readers, and economists alike, this Element is a primer on the field of the economics of conflict and peace. It offers a reasonably comprehensive, systematic, and detailed overview - even if in broad strokes - of the field's orthodox and heterodox history of thought and current theories and evidence. The authors view this Element as a baseline account on which to build a future, separate and more fully developed, work on the economics of peace, economic growth, and human development. Altogether, the Element contextualizes the field of conflict and peace economics, outlines its history of thought, highlights examples of current theoretical and empirical scholarship in the field, and maps trajectories for further research.
Interannual variability and decadal stability of benthic organisms on an Indonesian coral reef
Alberto Rovellini, Matthew R. Dunn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Lisa Woods, Jamaluddin Jompa, Abdul Haris, James J. Bell
Journal: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 101 / Issue 2 / March 2021
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2021, pp. 221-231
The availability of colonizable substrate is an important driver of the temporal dynamics of sessile invertebrates on coral reefs. Increased dominance of algae and, in some cases, sponges has been documented on many coral reefs around the world, but how these organisms benefit from non-colonized substrate on the reef is unclear. In this study, we described the temporal dynamics of benthic organisms on an Indonesian coral reef across two time periods between 2006 and 2017 (2006–2008 and 2014–2017), and investigated the effects of colonizable substrate on benthic cover of coral reef organisms at subsequent sampling events. In contrast with other Indonesian reefs where corals have been declining, corals were dominant and stable over time at this location (mean ± SE percentage cover 42.7 ± 1.9%). Percentage cover of turf algae and sponges showed larger interannual variability than corals and crustose coralline algae (CCA) (P < 0.001), indicating that these groups are more dynamic over short temporal scales. Bare substrate was a good predictor of turf cover in the following year (mean effect 0.2, 95% CI: 0–0.4). Algal cover combined with bare space was a good predictor of CCA cover the following year generally, and of sponge cover the following year but only at one of the three sites. These results indicate that turf algae on some Indonesian reefs can rapidly occupy free space when this becomes available, and that other benthic groups are probably not limited by the availability of bare substrate, but may overgrow already fouled substrates.
Trends and patterns in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among children and adults by race and/or ethnicity, 2003–2018
Jane Dai, Mark J Soto, Caroline G Dunn, Sara N Bleich
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 24 / Issue 9 / June 2021
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2021, pp. 2405-2410
Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has declined steadily. This study uses the latest national data to examine trends in SSB consumption among children and adults by race and/or ethnicity and to document whether long-standing disparities in intake remain.
Trend analyses of demographic and dietary data measured by 24-h dietary recall from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Data from the 2003–2004 through 2017–2018 NHANES survey cycles were analysed in 2020.
The study sample included 21 156 children aged 2–19 years and 32 631 adults aged 20+ years.
From 2003–2004 to 2017–2018, the prevalence of drinking any amount of SSB on a given day declined significantly among all race and/or ethnicity groups for children (non-Hispanic (NH) White: 81·6 % to 72·7 %; NH Black: 83·2 % to 74·8 %, Hispanic: 86·9 % to 77·2 %) and most race and/or ethnicity groups for adults (NH White: 72·3 % to 65·3 %; Hispanic: 84·6 % to 77·8 %). Consumption declined at a higher rate among NH Black and Hispanic children aged 12–19 years compared with their NH White peers; among NH Black children aged 6–11 years, the rate of decline was lower. Despite significant declines in per capita SSB energy consumption from soda and fruit drinks, consumption of sweetened coffee/tea beverages increased among older children and nearly all adults and consumption of sweetened milk beverages increased among NH White and Hispanic children.
SSB consumption has declined steadily for children and adults of all race and/or ethnicity groups, but disparities persist, and overall intake remains high.
Prevalence and nutrient composition of menu offerings targeted to customers with dietary restrictions at US fast casual and full-service restaurants
Sophia V Hua, Mark J Soto, Caroline G Dunn, Sara N Bleich, Kelsey A Vercammen
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 24 / Issue 6 / April 2021
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 January 2021, pp. 1240-1247
To examine the prevalence and nutrient composition of menu offerings targeted to customers with dietary restrictions at US fast casual and full-service chain restaurants.
We used 2018 data from MenuStat, a database of nutrient information for menu items at large US chain restaurants. Five alternative diets were examined: gluten-free, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, low-fat and vegetarian. Diet offerings were identified by searching MenuStat item descriptions and reviewing online menus. For each diet, we reported counts and proportions. We used bootstrapped multilevel models to examine differences in predicted mean kilojoules, saturated fat, Na and sugars between diet and non-diet menu items.
Forty-five US fast casual and full-service chain restaurants in 2018 (including 6419 items in initial analytic sample across small plates, salads and main dishes).
The most prevalent diets were gluten-free (n 631, 9·8 % of menu items), low-calorie (n 306, 4·8 %) and vegetarian (n 230, 3·6 %). Compared with non-diet counterparts, low-calorie main dishes had significantly lower levels of all nutrients examined and vegetarian main dishes had significantly lower levels of all nutrients except saturated fat. Gluten-free small plates had significantly fewer kilojoules, grams of saturated fat and milligrams of Na compared with non-diet small plates.
A small proportion of fast casual and full-service restaurant menus are targeted towards customers with dietary restrictions. Compared with non-diet items, those classified as gluten-free, low-calorie or vegetarian generally have healthier nutrient profiles, but overall nutrient values are still too high for most menu items, regardless of dietary label.
Effects of seed-rich habitat provision on territory density, home range and breeding performance of European Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur
JENNY C. DUNN, ANTONY J. MORRIS, PHILIP V. GRICE, WILL J. PEACH
Journal: Bird Conservation International / Volume 31 / Issue 4 / December 2021
Conservation measures providing food-rich habitats through agri-environment schemes (AES) have the potential to affect the demography and local abundance of species limited by food availability. The European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur is one of Europe's fastest declining birds, with breeding season dietary changes coincident with a reduction in reproductive output suggesting food limitation during breeding. In this study we provided seed-rich habitats at six intervention sites over a 4-year period and tested for impacts of the intervention on breeding success, ranging behaviour and the local abundance of territorial turtle doves. Nesting success and chick biometrics were unrelated to the local availability of seed-rich habitat or to the proximity of intervention plots. Nestling weight was higher close to human habitation consistent with an influence of anthropogenic supplementary food provision. Small home ranges were associated with a high proportion of non-farmed habitats, while large home ranges were more likely to contain seed-rich habitat suggesting that breeding doves were willing to travel further to utilize such habitat where available. Extensively managed grassland and intervention plot fields were selected by foraging turtle doves. A slower temporal decline in the abundance of breeding males on intervention sites probably reflects enhanced habitat suitability during territory settlement. Refining techniques to deliver sources of sown, natural, and supplementary seed that are plentiful, accessible, and parasite-free is likely to be crucial for the conservation of turtle doves.
Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory: A kilohertz-band gravitational-wave detector in the global network
K. Ackley, V. B. Adya, P. Agrawal, P. Altin, G. Ashton, M. Bailes, E. Baltinas, A. Barbuio, D. Beniwal, C. Blair, D. Blair, G. N. Bolingbroke, V. Bossilkov, S. Shachar Boublil, D. D. Brown, B. J. Burridge, J. Calderon Bustillo, J. Cameron, H. Tuong Cao, J. B. Carlin, S. Chang, P. Charlton, C. Chatterjee, D. Chattopadhyay, X. Chen, J. Chi, J. Chow, Q. Chu, A. Ciobanu, T. Clarke, P. Clearwater, J. Cooke, D. Coward, H. Crisp, R. J. Dattatri, A. T. Deller, D. A. Dobie, L. Dunn, P. J. Easter, J. Eichholz, R. Evans, C. Flynn, G. Foran, P. Forsyth, Y. Gai, S. Galaudage, D. K. Galloway, B. Gendre, B. Goncharov, S. Goode, D. Gozzard, B. Grace, A. W. Graham, A. Heger, F. Hernandez Vivanco, R. Hirai, N. A. Holland, Z. J. Holmes, E. Howard, E. Howell, G. Howitt, M. T. Hübner, J. Hurley, C. Ingram, V. Jaberian Hamedan, K. Jenner, L. Ju, D. P. Kapasi, T. Kaur, N. Kijbunchoo, M. Kovalam, R. Kumar Choudhary, P. D. Lasky, M. Y. M. Lau, J. Leung, J. Liu, K. Loh, A. Mailvagan, I. Mandel, J. J. McCann, D. E. McClelland, K. McKenzie, D. McManus, T. McRae, A. Melatos, P. Meyers, H. Middleton, M. T. Miles, M. Millhouse, Y. Lun Mong, B. Mueller, J. Munch, J. Musiov, S. Muusse, R. S. Nathan, Y. Naveh, C. Neijssel, B. Neil, S. W. S. Ng, V. Oloworaran, D. J. Ottaway, M. Page, J. Pan, M. Pathak, E. Payne, J. Powell, J. Pritchard, E. Puckridge, A. Raidani, V. Rallabhandi, D. Reardon, J. A. Riley, L. Roberts, I. M. Romero-Shaw, T. J. Roocke, G. Rowell, N. Sahu, N. Sarin, L. Sarre, H. Sattari, M. Schiworski, S. M. Scott, R. Sengar, D. Shaddock, R. Shannon, J. SHI, P. Sibley, B. J. J. Slagmolen, T. Slaven-Blair, R. J. E. Smith, J. Spollard, L. Steed, L. Strang, H. Sun, A. Sunderland, S. Suvorova, C. Talbot, E. Thrane, D. Töyrä, P. Trahanas, A. Vajpeyi, J. V. van Heijningen, A. F. Vargas, P. J. Veitch, A. Vigna-Gomez, A. Wade, K. Walker, Z. Wang, R. L. Ward, K. Ward, S. Webb, L. Wen, K. Wette, R. Wilcox, J. Winterflood, C. Wolf, B. Wu, M. Jet Yap, Z. You, H. Yu, J. Zhang, J. Zhang, C. Zhao, X. Zhu
Journal: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia / Volume 37 / 2020
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2020, e047
Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.
Pathways to a more peaceful and sustainable world: The transformative power of children in families
Pia R. Britto, Suna Hanöz-Penney, Liliana Angelica Ponguta, Diane Sunar, Ghassan Issa, Sascha D. Hein, Maria Conceição do Rosário, Maha A. Almuneef, Irem Korucu, Yaya Togo, Jamshed Kurbonov, Nurlan Choibekov, Hien Thi Thu Phan, N. Shemrah Fallon, Bekir B. Artukoğlu, Franz J. Hartl, Rima Salah, Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Paul Connolly, Laura Dunne, Sarah Miller, Kyle Pruett, James F. Leckman
Journal: Development and Psychopathology / Volume 33 / Issue 2 / May 2021
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 September 2020, pp. 409-420
This article provides an overview of selected ongoing international efforts that have been inspired by Edward Zigler's vision to improve programs and policies for young children and families in the United States. The efforts presented are in close alignment with three strategies articulated by Edward Zigler: (a) conduct research that will inform policy advocacy; (b) design, implement, and revise quality early childhood development (ECD) programs; and (c) invest in building the next generation of scholars and advocates in child development. The intergenerational legacy left by Edward Zigler has had an impact on young children not only in the United States, but also across the globe. More needs to be done. We need to work together with a full commitment to ensure the optimal development of each child.
Nutrition composition of children's meals in twenty-six large US chain restaurants
Caroline G Dunn, Kelsey A Vercammen, Johannah M Frelier, Alyssa J Moran, Sara N Bleich
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 23 / Issue 12 / August 2020
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 May 2020, pp. 2245-2252
To compare the nutritional quality of children's combination meals offered at large US chain restaurants characterised by three versions – default (advertised), minimum (lower-energy) and maximum (higher-energy).
We identified default children's meals (n 92) from online restaurant menus, then constructed minimum and maximum versions using realistic additions, substitutions and/or portion size changes for existing menu items. Nutrition data were obtained from the MenuStat database. Bootstrapped linear models assessed nutrition differences between meal versions and the extent to which meal components (main dish, side dish, beverage) drove differences across versions. For each version, we examined the proportion of meals meeting the Guidelines for Responsible Food Marketing to Children.
Twenty-six fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, in 2017.
Nutrient values differed significantly across meal versions for energy content (default 2443 kJ (584 kcal), minimum 1674 kJ (400 kcal), maximum 3314 kJ (792 kcal)), total fat (23, 17, 33 g), saturated fat (8, 6, 11 g), Na (1046, 915, 1287 mg) and sugar (35, 14, 51 g). The substitution of lower-energy beverages resulted in the greatest reduction in energy content (default to minimum, −418 kJ (−100 kcal)) and sugar (−20 g); choosing lower-energy side dishes resulted in the greatest reduction in total fat (default to minimum, −4 g), saturated fat (−1·1 g) and Na (−69 mg). Only 3 % of meals met guidelines for all nutrients.
Realistic modifications to children's combination meals using existing menu options can significantly alter a meal's nutrient composition. Promoting lower-energy items as the default option, especially for beverages and side dishes, has a potential to reduce fat, saturated fat and/or sugar in children's meals.
EPA-1435 - Add-on Clinical Effects of Simvastatin and Ondansetron in Patients with Schizophrenia Stabilized on Antipsychotic Treatment: Pilot study
I.B. Chaudhry, N. Husain, R.J. Drake, G. Dunn, M. Husain, A. Kazmi, M.M. Hamirani, R. Rahman, J. Stirling, J.F.W. Deakin
Journal: European Psychiatry / Volume 29 / Issue S1 / 2014
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2020, p. 1
There is some evidence that anti-inflammatory treatment may have beneficial effects in schizophrenia and major depression. Statins are cholesterol-lowering agents but have been found to be anti-inflammatory and also decrease C-reactive protein (CRP). Ondansetron is a serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist widely used to prevent nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. Small studies have suggested that adjunctive Ondansetron is efficacious against schizophrenia symptoms. We carried out a feasibility study in schizophrenia patients (within 5 years of first diagnosis) to explore the adjunctive use of simvastatin and ondansetron on positive, negative and general psychopathology.
This was a 12 week rater blind placebo controlled study. All to gather 36 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited, 12 in each arm. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks using PANSS, CGI, GAF and AIMS.
Both simvastatin and ondansetron provide some evidence of a reduction in symptoms compared to treatment as usual (TAU) on PANSS total score, although, this was not statistically significant. In the secondary analyses, no significant differences were seen on CGI, GAF and AIMS.
Anti-inflammatory treatments have shown to have some beneficial effects in schizophrenia. Both simvastatin and ondansetron provide some evidence of a reduction in symptoms compared to treatment as usual. This study has led to a larger SMRI-funded, double blind, randomized control trial.
Therapeutic Trials of Minocycline, Ondansetron and Simvastatin in Schizophrenia
J. Deakin, I.B. Chaudhry, A. Parker, G. Dunn, A. Kazmi, R. Drake, R. Ur Rahman, M. Hamirani, T. Kiran, N. Mehmood, N. Husain
Journal: European Psychiatry / Volume 30 / Issue S1 / March 2015
Immune mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This has lead to clinical trials of re-purposing drugs with off-target anti-inflammatory actions. They include the antibiotic minocycline and simvastatin (HMP-Co reductase inhibitor), which decrease microglial activation, and ondansetron a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist that has limited effects on cytokine production. This presentation will address their efficacy and mechanism of action.
1) Update on trials with minocycline including our own positive finding on negative symptoms (PMID: 16959472)
2) Present new results with ondansetron and simvastatin summarised below.
Ondansetron (8mg) and simvastatin (40mg) vs placebos in 2x2 design (PMID: 23782463). Patients aged 18-65, stable treatment, DSM IV schizophrenia-related diagnosis. PANSS and cognition at 0,3,6 months.
The four cells of the 2x2 design contained 302 patients. The interaction between ondansetron and simvastatin was significant at p=.006 reflecting the lower scores in the 3 active treatment groups than in the P+P group. Ondansetron improved verbal (p=.007) and visual list learning (p=.02) with no other treatment effects on cognition.
Minocycline appears to benefit negative symptoms in early psychosis with a minor effect on cognition. Simvastatin had limited effects in our patients with established schizophrenia but its anti-inflammatory effects could be worth investigating in early psychosis. Ondansetron has a significant effect on new learning, which might be expected from its 5-HT3 antagonist properties. This may underlie a benefit on negative symptoms reported by others and us.
Genetic liability to schizophrenia is associated with exposure to traumatic events in childhood
Hannah M. Sallis, Jazz Croft, Alexandra Havdahl, Hannah J. Jones, Erin C. Dunn, George Davey Smith, Stanley Zammit, Marcus R. Munafò
Journal: Psychological Medicine / Volume 51 / Issue 11 / August 2021
Print publication: August 2021
There is a wealth of literature on the observed association between childhood trauma and psychotic illness. However, the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis is complex and could be explained, in part, by gene–environment correlation.
The association between schizophrenia polygenic scores (PGS) and experiencing childhood trauma was investigated using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Schizophrenia PGS were derived in each cohort for children, mothers, and fathers where genetic data were available. Measures of trauma exposure were derived based on data collected throughout childhood and adolescence (0–17 years; ALSPAC) and at age 8 years (MoBa).
Within ALSPAC, we found a positive association between schizophrenia PGS and exposure to trauma across childhood and adolescence; effect sizes were consistent for both child or maternal PGS. We found evidence of an association between the schizophrenia PGS and the majority of trauma subtypes investigated, with the exception of bullying. These results were comparable with those of MoBa. Within ALSPAC, genetic liability to a range of additional psychiatric traits was also associated with a greater trauma exposure.
Results from two international birth cohorts indicate that genetic liability for a range of psychiatric traits is associated with experiencing childhood trauma. Genome-wide association study of psychiatric phenotypes may also reflect risk factors for these phenotypes. Our findings also suggest that youth at higher genetic risk might require greater resources/support to ensure they grow-up in a healthy environment.
Comparative efficacy of teat sealants given prepartum for prevention of intramammary infections and clinical mastitis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Antimicrobial stewardship in livestock
C. B. Winder, J. M. Sargeant, D. Hu, C. Wang, D. F. Kelton, S. J. Leblanc, T. F. Duffield, J. Glanville, H. Wood, K. J. Churchill, J. Dunn, M. D. Bergevin, K. Dawkins, S. Meadows, B. Deb, M. Reist, C. Moody, A. M. O'Connor
Journal: Animal Health Research Reviews / Volume 20 / Issue 2 / December 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2020, pp. 182-198
A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted to assess the relative efficacy of internal or external teat sealants given at dry-off in dairy cattle. Controlled trials were eligible if they assessed the use of internal or external teat sealants, with or without concurrent antimicrobial therapy, compared to no treatment or an alternative treatment, and measured one or more of the following outcomes: incidence of intramammary infection (IMI) at calving, IMI during the first 30 days in milk (DIM), or clinical mastitis during the first 30 DIM. Risk of bias was based on the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool with modified signaling questions. From 2280 initially identified records, 32 trials had data extracted for one or more outcomes. Network meta-analysis was conducted for IMI at calving. Use of an internal teat sealant (bismuth subnitrate) significantly reduced the risk of new IMI at calving compared to non-treated controls (RR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.25–0.72). For comparisons between antimicrobial and teat sealant groups, concerns regarding precision were seen. Synthesis of the primary research identified important challenges related to the comparability of outcomes, replication and connection of interventions, and quality of reporting of study conduct.
Comparative efficacy of blanket versus selective dry-cow therapy: a systematic review and pairwise meta-analysis
C. B. Winder, J. M. Sargeant, D. F. Kelton, S. J. Leblanc, T. F. Duffield, J. Glanville, H. Wood, K. J. Churchill, J. Dunn, M. d. Bergevin, K. Dawkins, S. Meadows, A. M. O'Connor
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the efficacy of selective dry-cow antimicrobial therapy compared to blanket therapy (all quarters/all cows). Controlled trials were eligible if any of the following were assessed: incidence of clinical mastitis during the first 30 DIM, frequency of intramammary infection (IMI) at calving, or frequency of IMI during the first 30 DIM. From 3480 identified records, nine trials were data extracted for IMI at calving. There was an insufficient number of trials to conduct meta-analysis for the other outcomes. Risk of IMI at calving in selectively treated cows was higher than blanket therapy (RR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.16), but substantial heterogeneity was present (I2 = 58%). Subgroup analysis showed that, for trials using internal teat sealants, there was no difference in IMI risk at calving between groups, and no heterogeneity was present. For trials not using internal teat sealants, there was an increased risk in cows assigned to a selective dry-cow therapy protocol, compared to blanket treatment, with substantial heterogeneity in this subgroup. However, the small number of trials and heterogeneity in the subgroup without internal teat sealants suggests that the relative risk between treatments may differ from the determined point estimates based on other unmeasured factors.
Comparative efficacy of antimicrobial treatments in dairy cows at dry-off to prevent new intramammary infections during the dry period or clinical mastitis during early lactation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted to assess the relative efficacy of antimicrobial therapy given to dairy cows at dry-off. Eligible studies were controlled trials assessing the use of antimicrobials compared to no treatment or an alternative treatment, and assessed one or more of the following outcomes: incidence of intramammary infection (IMI) at calving, incidence of IMI during the first 30 days in milk (DIM), or incidence of clinical mastitis during the first 30 DIM. Databases and conference proceedings were searched for relevant articles. The potential for bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 algorithm. From 3480 initially identified records, 45 trials had data extracted for one or more outcomes. Network meta-analysis was conducted for IMI at calving. The use of cephalosporins, cloxacillin, or penicillin with aminoglycoside significantly reduced the risk of new IMI at calving compared to non-treated controls (cephalosporins, RR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.23–0.65; cloxacillin, RR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.38–0.79; penicillin with aminoglycoside, RR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.72). Synthesis revealed challenges with a comparability of outcomes, replication of interventions, definitions of outcomes, and quality of reporting. The use of reporting guidelines, replication among interventions, and standardization of outcome definitions would increase the utility of primary research in this area.
Multidrug-resistant organisms on patients hands in an ICU setting
Aaron N. Dunn, Curtis J. Donskey, Steven M. Gordon, Abhishek Deshpande
Journal: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 41 / Issue 2 / February 2020
Print publication: February 2020
Understanding price incentives to upsize combination meals at large US fast-food restaurants
Kelsey A Vercammen, Johannah M Frelier, Alyssa J Moran, Caroline G Dunn, Aviva A Musicus, Julia Wolfson, Omar S Ullah, Sara N Bleich
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 23 / Issue 2 / February 2020
To understand price incentives to upsize combination meals at fast-food restaurants by comparing the calories (i.e. kilocalories; 1 kcal = 4·184 kJ) per dollar of default combination meals (as advertised on the menu) with a higher-calorie version (created using realistic consumer additions and portion-size changes).
Combination meals (lunch/dinner: n 258, breakfast: n 68, children's: n 34) and their prices were identified from online menus; corresponding nutrition information for each menu item was obtained from a restaurant nutrition database (MenuStat). Linear models were used to examine the difference in total calories per dollar between default and higher-calorie combination meals, overall and by restaurant.
Ten large fast-food chain restaurants located in the fifteen most populous US cities in 2017–2018.
There were significantly more calories per dollar in higher-calorie v. default combination meals for lunch/dinner (default: 577 kJ (138 kcal)/dollar, higher-calorie: 707 kJ (169 kcal)/dollar, difference: 130 kJ (31 kcal)/dollar, P < 0·001) and breakfast (default: 536 kJ (128 kcal)/dollar, higher-calorie: 607 kJ (145 kcal)/dollar, difference: 71 kJ (17 kcal)/dollar, P = 0·009). Results for children's meals were in the same direction but were not statistically significant (default: 536 kJ (128 kcal)/dollar, higher-calorie: 741 kJ (177 kcal)/dollar, difference: 205 kJ (49 kcal)/dollar, P = 0·053). Across restaurants, the percentage change in calories per dollar for higher-calorie v. default combination meals ranged from 0·1 % (Dunkin' Donuts) to 55·0 % (Subway).
Higher-calorie combination meals in fast-food restaurants offer significantly more calories per dollar compared with default combination meals, suggesting there is a strong financial incentive for consumers to 'upsize' their orders. Future research should test price incentives for lower-calorie options to promote healthier restaurant choices.


n. an infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, characterized by tubercles, esp. in the lungs (see also pulmonary tuberculosis).
Tuberculosis Tu*ber`cu*lo"sis, n. [NL. See Tubercle.] (Med.) A constitutional disease characterized by the production of tubercles in the internal organs, and especially in the lungs, where it constitutes the most common variety of pulmonary consumption.
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that affects someone's lungs and other parts of their body. The abbreviation TB is also used.


I don't get much time to sew these days, although I'm incredibly lucky to have my mum staying with us (she's been here since mid January and is leaving at the end of the week). This means I've been able to spend some time with Miro and every now and again I've also managed to sneak into my workshop and make stuff. I made some pants for Miro, and ironed some felt letters on the back of one of the pair that spell out "Miro".
And I made three circle skirts, using this super easy tutorial at Dana Made It, one for a friend's daughter's birthday, two for my cousin's two daughters.
Lastly I made a pair of board shorts using an upcycled men's shirt. I've been wanting to make a pair for Tahi so this pair was my trial one.
Next I'd like to make some pants and a hoodie for Tahi... winter's just around the corner!


It's that time of year. Time to switch out your summer blankets for the winter ones. Blankets vary as far as care, but many need the same TLC when it comes to storage. Follow these few simple steps in order to keep your blankets in the best of shape next season.
1. Clean your blanket, following the care labels. If you have a linen or cotton Brahms Mount blanket, you can find the care instructions for cleaning here. Make sure your blanket is completely dry before storing.
2. Cedar lined chests or closets are ideal for blanket storage, as the cedar deters moths and other insects from bothering the fabrics.
3. Other storage options include plastic bins for under the bed or in a closet.
4. Sealed plastic bags that came with your blanket are another option for storage. Vacuum storage bags are another option if you lose or throw away your bags; or simply want to conserve a little more space.
5. Pull out your blanket at the beginning of next season and enjoy!


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You are here: Home / Health / What is Dermagraphia?
Dermatographic urticaria (also known as dermographism, dermagraphia, dermatographism or "skin writing") is a skin disorder seen in 4–5% of the population and is one of the most common types of urticaria, in which the skin becomes raised and inflamed when stroked, scratched, rubbed, and sometimes even slapped. It is most common in young adults, ages 20-30.
Dermatographic urticaria ("skin writing"). Done by writing the "invisible" letters with an empty ball-point pen and waiting for a couple of minutes.
Great article on the psychosomatic aspects of dermagraphia, click here.
« Herpes Reactivation From Facial Procedures! Uncommon But It Happens!


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Petitto Interviewed for "InVisible rEvolution" Documentary
Featured photo above: On February 15, 2017, Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto, director of the Brain & Language Laboratory for Neuroimaging, was interviewed for a documentary in production, titled "InVisible rEvolution."
This documentary, directed by Chantal Deguire and shot on multiple locations in Canada and the United States, explores the unique intersection of Deaf culture, multiple signed and spoken languages, and modern science discoveries about the biological equivalence of signed and spoken languages in the human brain. Dr. Petitto discussed her laboratory's research on the neural bases of signed and spoken language acquisition, the brain's shared processing and acquisition of signed and spoken languages, and the role of Visual Sign Phonology in early sign-exposed deaf children's reading acquisition and reading success.


His voice is the best in the world!
Gray has been doing voice over for our television network for over 20 years now. His voice is the best in the world, he handles direction well, and is very easy to work with. I highly recommend using him, because he is very flexible, and can do almost any kind of narration.
© 2016 Gray Gleason. All Rights Reserved.


Our landscaping Shockpad has been designed to offer comfort as well as drainage at a cost effective price. Bespoke rolls can be manufactured and the foam is 125kg/m3.
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Catch The Latest Trailer And Featurette For FOX's New Series, MINORITY REPORT
Based on the international blockbuster film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and the first of his films to be adapted for television, MINORITY report follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen.
Watch The Latest TV Spots For Series Drama GANG RELATED
The season continues looking pretty good for television with FOX's most recent promotional efforts with the new series, Gang Related. The show earned its first bit of footage with a full-on cinematic TV spot during Monday night's premiere of 24: Live Another Day. You can now catch that TV spot and a previous promo below the following series description.
Gang Related airs beginning May 22. Check your local listings!
Every villain has a noble cause, and every hero has a dark side.
In the gritty new action-drama GANG RELATED, Detective RYAN LOPEZ (Ramon Rodriguez, "Battle Los Angeles," "The Wire") is a rising star in Los Angeles' elite Gang Task Force. What the world doesn't know is that long before Ryan became a cop, he pledged allegiance to a different band of brothers – a powerful Latino gang called Los Angelicos.
When Ryan's best friend and police partner is senselessly killed by a notorious gang member, Ryan teams up with longtime Task Force member CASSIUS GREEN (RZA, "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," "Californication"), who has been at the forefront of the city's war on organized crime. In this war between law enforcement and gangs, the series explores how only people who really know the streets can win the battle on the streets.
Despite his profession, Ryan is still beholden to the gang's leader, JAVIER ACOSTA (Cliff Curtis, "Live Free or Die Hard," "Training Day"), the father figure Ryan has tried to make proud his entire life and the man who masterminded his entry into the police force. It's a secret that has been held for a decade by Ryan, Javier and Javier's sons: cold-blooded gang lieutenant CARLOS (Rey Gallegos, "Sons of Anarchy," "24"); and Ryan's childhood best friend, straight-laced investment banker DANIEL (Jay Hernandez, "Last Resort," "Hostel").
But Ryan is starting to realize that he is even more dedicated to being a cop than he is to Los Angelicos. He is respected by his team, including TAE KIM (Sung Kang, "Fast Five," "Live Free or Die Hard"), VERONICA "VEE" DOTSEN (Inbar Lavi, "Underemployed," "Street Kings 2: Motor City") and Task Force leader SAM CHAPEL (Terry O'Quinn, "Lost"), Ryan's other surrogate father figure, whose estranged daughter, JESSICA (Shantel VanSanten, "One Tree Hill," "The Final Destination"), is the city's Assistant District Attorney.
Ryan's education comes from the streets, and that schooling will work to his advantage, as he, Cassius and the rest of the police unit take aim at the city's most dangerous gangs. While balancing two allegiances, two father figures and two families, Ryan's increasing sense of loyalty to one will help him finally determine which side of the law he is really on.
GANG RELATED is from 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Entertainment, Chris Morgan Productions and Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions. The series is created and written by Chris Morgan ("Wanted," "Fast Five"). The series is executive-produced by Morgan, Scott Rosenbaum ("The Shield," "Chuck"), Academy Award-winning producer Brian Grazer ("24," "A Beautiful Mind") and Francie Calfo ("The Great Escape," "The Playboy Club"). Allen Hughes ("Dead Presidents," "Book of Eli," "Menace II Society") directed and served as an executive producer on the pilot.
Check Out The New Poster And Promo For 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY
A new promo trailer aired on Tuesday for the forthcoming premiere of 24: Live Another Day, along with some brand new courtesy of broadcasting. This is the third of three promos aired so far since the last Super Bowl, and considering the audience the show has built since 2001, this particular special event is clearly looking to top itself.
May 5 is when the clock starts again. Set your watches and TV sets!
24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY is a thrilling new event series set to restart the ticking clock on the groundbreaking and Emmy Award-winning drama.
The high-octane saga reunites the Emmy Award-winning team of executive producer Howard Gordon; star and executive producer Kiefer Sutherland; co-creator Robert Cochran; executive producers, Evan Katz, Manny Coto, David Fury, Brian Grazer and director Jon Cassar. It also will retain the real-time, pulse-pounding, fast-paced format with split screens and interweaving storylines.
Set and shot in London, the suspenseful event series once again will follow the exploits of heroic agent JACK BAUER (Sutherland). Four years ago, Jack was a fugitive from justice. Now an exile, he nevertheless is willing to risk his life and freedom to avert yet another global disaster. Tracking Jack are CIA head STEVE HARRIS (Benjamin Bratt, "Law & Order"); CIA agent KATE MORGAN (Yvonne Strahovski, "Dexter"), who is both resourceful and ruthless; JORDAN REED (Giles Matthey, "Jobs"), a smart and sophisticated CIA computer tech; and ERIK RITTER (Gbenga Akinnagbe, "The Wire"), a sharp, strong and arrogant field operative. Calling the shots is JAMES HELLER (William Devane, "The Dark Knight Rises"), now President of the United States. Heller is flanked by his Chief of Staff MARK BOUDREAU (Tate Donovan, "Damages"), who is married to Heller's daughter — Jack's former flame, AUDREY (Kim Raver, "Revolution"). Meanwhile, a hardened CHLOE O'BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub, "Firewall"), Bauer's CTU confidante, is now working underground with high-profile hacker ADRIAN CROSS (Michael Wincott, "The Crow"). Guest stars on 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY include Golden Globe Award winner Judy Davis ("Life with Judy Garland") and Golden Globe Award nominee Stephen Fry ("Alice in Wonderland," BONES). The harrowing day will have Jack attempting to thwart an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever.