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We collected 6251 adult epigeic spiders from the dwarf-shrub heath to subalpine coniferous forest on Alp Flix (CH, canton Grisons, 1950 m) between May 2005 and May 2006 using pitfall traps. Total species richness and activity density of all species decreased from the open land to the forest, although this pattern varied according to family. The distribution of the 102 species found indicates that the small area around a single tree at the timberline provides habitats for both open land and forest spider species as well as some possible timberline specialists. Five species were new to the canton Grisons: Centromerita bicolor, Centromerita concinna, Hilaira excisa, Meioneta alpica and Tallusia experta. Three species showed remarkable morphological characteristics and were analysed in more detail. We found males of Pelecopsis radicicola without the characteristic longitudinal depression on the raised carapace. It is shown that the males of Meioneta alpica have a considerably variable lamella characteristica, which is nevertheless distinct from the sister species Meioneta ressli. Because we found intermediate forms of the head region described for Metopobactrus prominulus and M. schenkeli, respectively, M. schenkeli is considered a syn. nov. of M. prominulus. This study shows that the known distribution and taxonomic status of various spider taxa in the Central Alps are still incomplete and further work on arthropods in remote areas should be strongly encouraged.

BackgroundSatisfactory psychometric properties in offline questionnaires do not guarantee the same outcome in Web-based versions. Any construct that is measured online should be compared to a paper-based assessment so that the appropriateness of online questionnaire data can be tested. Little research has been done in this area regarding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. ObjectiveThe objective was to simultaneously collect paper-based and Web-based ADHD questionnaire data in adults not diagnosed with ADHD in order to compare the two data sources regarding their equivalence in raw scores, in measures of reliability, and in factorial structures. MethodsData from the German versions of the Connors Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS-S), the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-k), and the ADHD Self Rating Scale (ADHS-SB) were collected via online and paper questionnaires in a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. We performed confirmatory factor analyses to examine the postulated factor structures in both groups separately and multiple group confirmatory factor analyses to test whether the postulated factor structures of the questionnaires were equivalent across groups. With Cronbach alpha, we investigated the internal consistency of the postulated factors in the different questionnaires. Mann-Whitney U tests with the effect size “Probability of Superiority (PS)” were used to compare absolute values in the questionnaires between the two groups. ResultsIn the paper-based sample, there were 311 subjects (73.3% female); in the online sample, we reached 255 subjects (69% female). The paper-based sample had a mean age of 39.2 years (SD 18.6); the Web-based sample had a mean age of 30.4 years (SD 10.5) and had a higher educational background. The original four factor structure of the CAARS-S could be replicated in both samples, but factor loadings were different. The Web-based sample had significantly higher total scores on three scales. The five-factor structure of the German short form of the WURS-k could be replicated only in the Web-based sample. The Web-based sample had substantially higher total scores, and nearly 40% of the Web-based sample scored above the clinically relevant cut-off value. The three-factor structure of the ADHS-SB could be replicated in both samples, but factor loadings were different. Women in the Web-based sample had substantially higher total scores, and 30% of the Web-based sample scored above the clinically relevant cut-off value. Internal consistencies in all questionnaires were acceptable to high in both groups. ConclusionsData from the Web-based administration of ADHD questionnaires for adults should not be used for the extraction of population norms. Separate norms should be established for ADHD online questionnaires. General psychometric properties of ADHD questionnaires (factor structure, internal consistency) were largely unaffected by sampling bias. Extended validity studies of existing ADHD questionnaires should be performed by including subjects with a diagnosis of ADHD and by randomizing them to Web- or paper-based administration.

Introduction: Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare multi-organ vascular disease. It is characterised by mucocutaneous telangiectasia, epistaxis, and arteriovenous malformations. Some 70% of patients with HHT are thought to have issues with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Traditional management of GI bleeding in HHT includes monitoring for iron deficiency anaemia, iron replacement, antifibrinolytic therapy and control of identifiable bleeding sites with argon photocoagulation during gastrointestinal endoscopy. Blood transfusion may also be required. Case description: Our case describes a man in his 40s with confirmed HHT, with transfusion-dependent anaemia secondary to GI bleeding. He was commenced on fortnightly bevacizumab (5 mg/kg) for 12 weeks in an attempt to reduce his blood transfusion requirement and manage his anaemia. In the months prior to starting bevacizumab, our patient’s transfusion requirement ranged from 3–5 units of packed red cells per month to maintain an Hb >8 g/dl. He had a marked improvement in his symptoms within the first month of treatment and did not require any further blood transfusion during the three months of treatment. He was given one further IV iron infusion in the final month of his 3-month bevacizumab treatment and did not experience any adverse side effects from bevacizumab. Discussion: HHT results from alterations to genes which encode proteins involved in blood vessel formation. This provides the rationale for using anti VEGF drugs such as bevacizumab. Current evidence for this treatment approach is limited. Conclusion: Bevacizumab can be an effective treatment option in patients with HHT refractory to traditional management.

Rottenberg argued that the reassignment of negotiating rights from owners to players, that would accompany free agency in professional sports, would have little impact on locational or market outcomes. Empirical investigations into such reassignment have produced mixed results. The present paper examines the impact such reassignment had on professional sports athletes' career length. By examining the univariate time series and panel data behavior of Major League Baseball players' average tenure and retention rates, we find that the increased negotiating power associated with the advent of free agency had the impact of shortening average player career length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes have raised significant attention in the field of photocatalysis. However, achieving locally‐confined, tunable, and efficient crystallization remains challenging. Laser crystallization that enables surface‐confined, fast, and localized annealing has emerged as an alternative to calcination of TiO2 nanotubes. Nonetheless, questions regarding crystallization parameters and mechanism remain open. In this work, amorphous TiO2 nanotubes are synthesized by a two‐step anodization process and laser exposed (515 nm, 1 MHz, 250 fs, 256–569 mW, 1–200 mm s−1) to study the impact of laser parameters and the mechanism of laser crystallization. A thorough analysis via Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and degradation of methylene blue is performed and the influence of laser processing parameters on the crystallization are studied and discussed. As laser power increases, a gradual transition from amorphous to anatase and rutile phase takes place, consistent with a thermal crystallization mechanism. Contrary, with increasing laser scanning speeds, thus lower pulse numbers, anatase is converted to rutile and melting occurs. The degradation of methylene blue with anatase samples crystallized by laser and calcination exhibits equal kinetic degradation constants of 0.013 s−1cm−2. This study enhances the understanding of laser crystallization of TiO2 nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]