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Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a highly adaptable species that have invaded many regions and cause significant damage throughout the world. Ungulate‐proof fencing is increasingly used in conjunction with other control techniques to manage wild pig populations. However, little is known about how fencing affects wild pig space use behaviors and whether any changes may be exploited to increase efficacy of control activities. Our goal was to understand how wild pigs altered their space use behaviors in response to newly constructed fencing. Specifically, we examined for changes in space use area (home range and core area), increases in overlap with conspecifics, and shifts in space use as ungulate exclusion fencing was constructed on northern Guam from February 2021 to March 2022. Wild pigs closer to the fence had decreased space use. For every 200 m nearer newly constructed fence, home ranges and core areas decreased approximately 15% and 16%, respectively. When individual wild pigs were enclosed by the fence, those animals increased their home range overlap with conspecifics by approximately 76% compared to wild pigs outside the fence. Wild pigs shifted their home ranges 3 to 9 times more during the first part of fence construction when 68% of the fence was completed compared to all other time periods, with male wild pigs shifting greater distances than females by 1.15 times. The construction of ungulate fencing led to smaller space use areas of wild pigs on both sides of the fence and intensified use of the area inside the fence by wild pigs contained within (i.e., more overlap). Management activities nearer the fence should account for decreases in home range and core area size to maximize population control efforts (i.e., more densely spaced trap sites). Enclosed wild pigs should be eradicated quickly to minimize damages to sensitive flora and fauna and decrease disease risk from intensified movement behaviors inside the fence. We examined changes in spatial movement behaviors of wild pigs with the construction and completion of ungulate‐proof fencing in Guam from February 2021 to March 2022. Wild pigs nearer the fence decreased their space use and enclosed wild pigs increased overlap between conspecifics. We recommend increasing trap sites nearer the fence to maximize wild pig control activities. In addition, wild pigs inside the fence should be eradicated quickly to minimize secondary damages to native flora and fauna and decrease disease risk.

Continental-dominated successions are often poorly constrained stratigraphically due to a lack of robust biostratigraphic markers. This study provides the first dataset of d13Corg together with magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data from a thick continental-dominated succession at Lairière (northern Pyrenees, France). This section encompasses the latest Cretaceous up to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum interval and is characterized by fluvial deposits, occasionally intercalated with continental carbonates, lacustrine deltaic deposits and shallow marine sediments. This work identifies d13Corg events and assigns them to global d13C geochemical events defined in Pyrenean and Tethyan marine successions, in which the stage boundaries are well calibrated. As the isotopic measurements are performed on dispersed organic matter in sedimentary rocks with a low organic content, we propose that analyses of the signal should take into consideration the depositional environment because variations in the organic matter content might affect the signal. We establish a high-resolution chronostratigraphy in terrestrial Paleocene deposits in the NE Pyrenean zone, recognize a late Selandian interval and define the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formed close to the K-Pg boundary, the Boltysh meteorite crater, Ukraine, preserves >400 m of lacustrine sedimentary rocks that include a record of the early Danian Dan-C2 hyperthermal event. Abundant pollen, spores and algae recovered from these sediments have yielded a cyclic record of plant ecology change paced by c. 21 kyr orbital precession cycles. New, higher resolution sampling across the inception of the Dan-C2 hyperthermal event has identified oscillations in vegetation community ecology at sub-orbital periods of c. 2 kyr, c. 200 years and c. 11 years. These are consistent with possible Hallstatt, DeVreis-Suess and Schwabe solar cycles, respectively. Rapid regime shift from savanna to a mesic forest ecosystem was paced by c. 21 kyr precession, with the shift probably occurring in <200 years. Prior to regime shift, c. 2 kyr (i.e. possible Hallstatt) oscillations between mesic- and winterwet-dominated plant communities increased in intensity, suggestive of ecological flickering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlamydia trachomatis is the commonest bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Victoria, Australia, with the number of notifications increasing threefold in the past 8 years from 1287 in 1994 to [...]

The Lagavulin exploration well 217/15-1Z penetrated a c. 2.6 km thick volcanic sequence dominated by extrusive basaltic rocks spanning the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the NE Faroe-Shetland Basin. The well comprises one of the thickest drilled sequences through the North Atlantic Igneous Province. Integrated analysis of drill cuttings and wireline-log data reveals key volcanic lithofacies: (1) tabular lava flows; (2) compound lava flows; (3) hyaloclastite; (4) volcaniclastic rocks. The volcanic facies reveal two major sub-aqueous to subaerial sequences consistent with lava delta progradation. These sequences are separated by a volcanic hiatus represented by extensive reddened soils, which preceded the re-submergence of the area. Emergence followed by submergence of the first lava delta is interpreted to record an intra-T40 transient uplift event near the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. Basalts from the lower c. 1.3 km have low TiO2 (<1.5 wt%) and low Zr/Y (2-3), with olivine-phyric picrites towards the base (Mg# 70-82; olivine Fo85-91). The hiatus correlates precisely with a change to high-TiO2 (2.5-3.2 wt%), high-Zr/Y (>4) compositions, which dominate the upper sequence. The associated change in lava geochemistry, transient uplift and volcanic hiatus appears consistent with a transient pulse of hot buoyant plume material passing beneath the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-balance calculations indicate that a massive amount of d13C-depleted carbon was released into the early Danian atmosphere in volumes comparable with the younger Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). This Danian hyperthermal event (the Dan-C2) has been documented from the fill of the Boltysh meteorite crater, Ukraine. Palynofloras recovered from the Boltysh crater fill show a trend from mesic forest to savannah ecosystem dominance on a millennial scale across the hyperthermal inception with no abrupt compositional shift. This longer-term trend is overprinted by moisture availability oscillations reflecting orbital forcing. Forcing is not directly tracked by the oscillations, which are composed of mesic forest and savannah palynofloras separated by rapid critical transitions. The absence of an ecological collapse at the Dan-C2 indicates that plant ecosystems experienced dominant forcing from orbital cyclicity, rather than a stochastic temperature rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basalt dykes from the regional dyke swarm of the British Palaeogene Igneous Province (BPIP) were emplaced parallel to structural lineaments linking onshore and offshore volcanic edifices. Basalts that underwent minimal interaction with the crust have Mg# 60-75, _Nd58 c. 8, 206Pb/204Pb c. 17.5, δ18O 5.9 ± 0.3‰, and 87Sr/86Sr <0.7040. Basalts with convex-upwards REE profiles ([La/Sm]N <1; [Sm/Yb]N >1) were generated by limited extents of melting (<10%) in the garnet-spinel transition of the upper mantle. Basalts with LREE-depleted ([La/Sm]N <1) or flat REE profiles require substantial (up to 20%) melting of spinel lherzolite. Modelling of major element compositions and olivine equilibration temperatures indicates that the mantle potential temperature was a maximum of 1530 °C beneath the BPIP at 58-60 Ma. Magmatism occurred at the periphery of a mantle thermal anomaly (proto-Iceland plume; TP ≤ 1560 °C) centred beneath western Greenland. The distribution of BPIP magmas was controlled by extensional tectonism driven by plate boundary forces resulting from plate reorganizations in the northern hemisphere starting at c. 62 Ma. The well-known mildly alkaline lava piles of Skye and Mull represent volcanoes on the flanks of the resulting rift system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where hydrocarbon exploration targets occur within basins affected by large igneous province (LIP) sequences, an understanding of the volcanic stratigraphy is essential in compiling accurate basin models at all scales. Ditch cutting samples are one of the most commonly available sources of data yielding information in the context of LIP stratigraphy such as phenocryst load, degree of secondary precipitation and lava composition, largely unattainable by remote sensing. Where core data is limited or absent, cuttings provide the only means of accessing such data along with valuable inference of volcanic facies development and down-hole conditions. Interpretations based on cuttings data are widely used in industry and, as such, a repeatable and well-defined methodology for the analysis and designation of volcanic facies from cuttings is an important requirement for regional and individual play modelling. Such an approach has not been common practice to date. We propose a system of basic percentage-based cuttings analysis and ternary classification specifically tailored to LIP sequences, and argue for the benefits of a coherent and transparent basin-wide approach. The classification system is further developed into a log-style output for easy integration and comparison with other down-hole geophysical and biostratigraphic data.

Sedimentary rocks filling the Boltysh meteorite crater preserve an expanded record of post Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K/Pg) event vegetation destruction and subsequent floral recolonization. A post-destruction barren zone is succeeded by a fern spore spike recording the initial recovery vegetation. The Boltysh fern spore spike is divisible into two phases. Phase 1 is characterized by low abundances of fern spores, whereas the overlying Phase 2 has high fern spore abundances and contains common palm pollen. Comparison of the Boltysh Phase 2 fern spore spike with other palynological records shows strong similarities to the immediately post K/Pg boundary record of the Western Interior, North America. Variation in the composition of the Boltysh palynofloras has been used to define four moisture availability cycles between the K/Pg boundary and the Dan-C2 negative carbon isotope excursion, a period of some 300 kyr. Early post K/Pg event vegetation community recovery followed a common seral successional pathway at rates seen in large igneous provinces, although enhanced by high moisture availability. Continued succession to the first true swamp community was at a considerably slower tempo. The post K/Pg event vegetation recovery was therefore retarded by lack of moisture availability, extending the apparent period of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued range expansion of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in North America is an increasing cause for concern because of the numerous negative impacts that wild pigs have on ecosystem structure and function. Once populations are established, wild pigs have proven to be extremely difficult to control, and close to impossible to eradicate. If effective control and removal techniques are to be developed, we must determine if wild pig populations respond to reductions in density by increasing reproductive output. This study was designed to examine if reproductive parameters of female wild pigs display a density-dependent response following a concentrated removal effort. We compared reproductive parameters and condition of adult sows that were collected between a control area and a treatment area where lethal removal occurred. From August 2004 to May 2006, we focused a concentrated removal effort within the treatment area. Although the population density was more than 65% greater in the control area than the treatment area during the study, we did not detect differences between areas for condition, litter size, ovarian mass, corpus luteum mass, or corpora lutea number. Several years of heavy mast production during the study may have negated any effect on condition and subsequent reproduction between the 2 study areas. These data suggest that reproductive parameters of wild pigs do not exhibit density-dependence during periods when pig populations are in good condition. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

In the field of intensive care, clinical data registries are commonly used to support clinical audit and develop evidence-based practice. However, they are often restricted to the intensive care unit episode only, limiting their ability to follow long-term patient outcomes and identify patient readmissions. Data linkage can be used to supplement existing data, but a lack of unique patient identifiers may compromise the accuracy of the linkage process. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of linking the Australia/New Zealand critical care registry to a state financial claims database using a method without direct patient identifiers and to identify possible sources of bias from this method. We used a linkage method relying on indirect patient identifiers and compared the accuracy of this method to one that also included the patient medical record number and date of birth.The overall linkage rate using the method with indirect identifiers was 92.3% compared to 94.5% using the method with direct identifiers. Factors most strongly associated with not being a correct link in the first method included patients at one study hospital, admissions in 2002 and 2003 and having a hospital length of stay of 20 days or more. Linking the Australia/New Zealand critical care without direct patient identifiers is a valid linkage method that will enable the measurement of long-term patient survival and readmissions. While some sources of bias have been identified, this method provides sufficient quality linkage that will support broad analyses designed to signal future in-depth research.

ObjectiveTo estimate the difference between mean interface sub-bandage pressures of two multilayer compression bandage systems in healthy volunteers when supine, standing, exercising and during recovery.MethodInelastic and elastic compression bandages were randomised to opposite limbs of each participant. Sub-bandage interface pressures for both bandages were compared within person. Participants and study staff were aware of the treatment. A pressure transducer measured sub-bandage pressures on the medial aspect of the lower leg, at the transition of the gastrocnemius muscle into the Achilles tendon (B1). The difference in interface pressure for the two different compression bandages was measured at level B1 during supine resting, standing, exercise and recovery. We defined the pressure difference between active standing and lying as a measure of stiffness, and amplitude as the range of pressures during plantar flexion while standing. The two bandage systems (inelastic and elastic) were applied from the base of the toes to just below knee and remained in place for the duration of the experiment. Elastic bandage consisted of three layers of graduated tubular bandage (83% cotton, 9% Lycra, 8% polyamide). Inelastic or short-stretch bandage consisted of 100% cotton crepe bandage.ResultsInterface sub-bandage pressures varied during different activities, but the mean difference in interface pressures between inelastic and elastic bandages was consistently at least 13mmHg. Stiffness was 7.3mmHg higher in the inelastic group (95% CI 5.1–9.5). The estimated difference in amplitude of sub-bandage pressure between the bandages during exercise was 15.5mmHg (95% CI 12.2–18.9).ConclusionWe found in vivointerface sub-bandage pressures varied with the type of bandage and activity phase. Inelastic bandages resulted in an increased mean interface sub-bandage pressure when resting and recovering, which was further increased when standing or exercising. Bandage stiffness and amplitude were also greater for inelastic compared with elastic bandages.Conflict of interestNone.

ABSTRACT We examined home range behavior of female feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a heavily hunted population on Fort Benning Military Reservation in west-central Georgia, USA. We used Global Positioning System location data from 24 individuals representing 18 sounders (i.e., F social groups) combined with mark-recapture and camera-trap data to evaluate evidence of territorial behavior at the individual and sounder levels. Through a manipulative experiment, we examined evidence for an inverse relationship between population density and home range size that would be expected for territorial animals. Pigs from the same sounder had extensive home range overlap and did not have exclusive core areas. Sounders had nearly exclusive home ranges and had completely exclusive core areas, suggesting that female feral pigs on Fort Benning were territorial at the sounder level but not at the individual level. Lethal removal maintained stable densities of pigs in our treatment area, whereas density increased in our control area; territory size in the 2 areas was weakly and inversely related to density of pigs. Territorial behavior in feral pigs could influence population density by limiting access to reproductive space. Removal strategies that 1) match distribution of removal efforts to distribution of territories, 2) remove entire sounders instead of individuals, and 3) focus efforts where high-quality food resources strongly influence territorial behaviors may be best for long-term control of feral pigs.

Capillary refill time (CRT) has been taught as a rapid indicator of circulatory status but to be a useful clinical test, CRT needs to be reproducible when performed by another health care worker. No inter-rater agreement studies have been reported for adult patients. The aim of this study was to determine the inter-observer reliability of CRT in a sample of adult emergency department (ED) patients. This prospective observational study included clinically stable ED patients with a variety of conditions from two community EDs. A doctor and a nurse each measured CRT by estimation to the nearest half-second using a standard method on each patient. They were blinded to each other's measurements. The primary outcome of interest was inter-rater agreement. Secondary outcome was agreement in classification as normal or abnormal according to accepted definitions. Data was analysed using bias plot analysis, correlation, absolute percent agreement and kappa analysis. Totally, 209 patients were enrolled; 51% were female and 86% were Caucasian. Median CRT was 2 seconds (95% CI 2–2.35 seconds). The mean difference between measurements by the different observers was 0 second, however the 95% limits of agreement were very wide (–1.7 to +1.9 seconds). Agreement was 70% for classification of ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ using the 2-second definition of normal, with a kappa of 0.38. Interobserver agreement in measurement of CRT was poor in adult subjects with wide limits of agreement. This is a serious threat to the appropriateness of this test for use in clinical practice.

Background: Hypertriglyceridaemia is a recognised metabolic abnormality in HIV-infected people, increasing in severity in people treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). An alternative treatment for hypertriglyceridaemia in non-HIV-infected populations is omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and placebo in lowering fasting triglyceride levels in HIV-infected patients on HAART. Methods: A placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind trial in participants on stable HAART with fasting triglycerides of >3.5mm to 10.0mm using 9g of omega-3 fatty acids versus placebo (olive oil) after a 6-week lead in on dietary therapy. Results: Eleven patients were enrolled. The mean triglyceride level for the population decreased from 5.02mm at baseline to 4.44mm (?11.6%) after dietary intervention and 3.37mm (?32.9%) after the 8-week treatment period. In the omega-3 fatty acid arm of the study, triglycerides fell from 5.34mm to 5.02mm (?6%) after dietary intervention and to 2.30mm (?56.9%) after the treatment period. In the placebo arm of the study, triglycerides fell from 4.77mm to 4.05mm (?15.1%) after dietary intervention and to 4.08mm (?14.5%) after the treatment period. Using the random effects model, a statistically significant effect on triglycerides of omega-3 fatty acid versus placebo was found (?2=6.04, P=0.0487). The estimated difference between groups for change in mean triglycerides over 8 weeks was ?2.32mm (95% CI ?4.52, ?0.12mm). Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acids are likely to be an effective treatment for hypertriglyceridaemia in HIV-infected males on HAART.

Catecholamine-resistant shock is not uncommon in intensive care. Bolus dose terlipressin (a vasopressin analogue) has been used successfully in this setting allowing cessation of other vasopressor agents. The relative vasopressin deficiency in combination with the restoration of the vascular tone (by blocking adenosine triphosphate potassium-sensitive channels) by exogenous vasopressin may be the explanation of these beneficial effects. We describe a case report where the use of a continuous terlipressin infusion was associated with a dramatic improvement. To our knowledge there have been no previous reports of the use of terlipressin by continuous infusion for the treatment of catecholamine-resistant shock.

To determine whether onset seizures after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) carry independent prognostic information and to investigate the risk factors for late seizures after SAH.

Background: A retrospective analysis of data from the Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database (VIMD) was conducted to analyse trends in prostatectomy rates in Victorian public acute‐care hospitals from 1989/90 to 1994/95. The study also sought to identify predictors of adverse events (AE) after prostatectomy, and to compare in‐hospital complications between open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

In acute ischemic stroke the pattern of a perfusion-imaging (PI) lesion larger than the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion may be a marker of the ischemic penumbra. We hypothesized that acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion would predict the presence of presumed "penumbral" patterns (PI > DWI), ischemic core evolution, and stroke outcome.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a disease with both inherited and environmental components determining its clinical expression, has been reported to be more frequent in people of Asian origin. Objective: Our purpose was to compare the 12-month cumulative incidence of AD in Caucasian, Chinese, and Vietnamese babies born in Australia. Methods: Sixty-two Caucasian, 61 Chinese, and 59 Vietnamese babies born in Melbourne, Australia were examined soon after birth and then followed up for 12 months to assess the frequency of AD. Parental education, employment history, and housing conditions were also recorded. Results: AD developed in 21% of Caucasians, 44% of Chinese, and 17% of Vietnamese infants. Parents of the Chinese and Caucasian infants had similar socioeconomic and housing conditions compared with the parents of the Vietnamese infants, who tended to be of lower socioeconomic status with communal housing and lack of plush-pile carpeting. Conclusion: The high incidence of AD in Chinese compared with Caucasian infants tends to reflect genetic differences between the two populations, whereas the difference in incidence between the Chinese and Vietnamese infants possibly reflects more the environmental contribution to disease expression. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:597-602.)

To compare crude and adjusted in-hospital mortality rates after prostatectomy between hospitals using routinely collected hospital discharge data and to illustrate the value and limitations of using comparative mortality rates as a surrogate measure of quality of care.

To carry out a meta-analysis of the age-specific incidence of all dementias, including AD and vascular dementia.

The aim of this study was to determine the bidirectional release of immunoreactive inhibin-α (irINH-α) by different testicular compartments in the adult ram and to assess the effects of FSH on the distribution of inhibin in the testis. Immunoreactive INH-α was measured by RIA in fluid samples collected concurrently from the three testicular compartments—the seminiferous tubules, the interstitium, and the vascular system—through catheters inserted surgically into the rete testis, testicular lymphatic duct system, and spermatic veins, respectively. Overall, the concentration of irINH-α in rete testis fluid was 25 times the level in testicular lymph and over 500 times the concentration in peripheral blood. The pattern of irINH-α concentration in rete testis fluid was inversely related to that in testicular lymph, but i.v. administration of FSH had a decoupling effect on this relationship by depressing inhibin concentration in testicular lymph without affecting inhibin levels in rete testis fluid. Nevertheless, increased flow of testicular lymph more than compensated for the transient fall in irINH-α concentration so that, overall, the total output of inhibin via the testicular lymphatic duct system (and the vascular system) increased significantly. No persistent or significant changes were observed in the flow rate of rete testis fluid or concentration of irINH-α in the fluid after administration of FSH. The time frame for the response of the testis to FSH is indicative of the involvement of a mediator. Electrophoretic analysis of serially collected testicular lymph samples consistently revealed an FSH-induced release of a series of proteins in the Mrrange of 30,000–32,000. These results point to an FSH-induced increase in vascular permeability as a major mechanism of inhibIn release by the outer compartment of the seminiferous epitheium.

The clinical utility of a flow cytometric assay (FCA) for intracellular HIV p24 antigen was evaluated in a group of HIV-1-infected subjects. A previously described method, p24-FCA (1), was modified to minimize nonspecific staining and to include irrelevant isotype-matched control antibodies. Blood mononuclear cells from 32 HIV-1 seropositive subjects and 14 HIV-1 seronegative controls were examined. In HIV-1 seropositive individuals, the proportion of CD4+ lymphocytes that bound the p24 monoclonal and the isotype control antibodies were not different. The frequency of cells binding p24 antibodies increased with declining CD4 counts and was highest in patients with low CD4+ lymphocyte counts. Although results of p24-FCA do reflect disease progression, the high nonspecific binding of monoclonal antibodies in infected subjects obscures specific p24 binding and precludes its use as an accurate measure of infection within single cells. Cytometry 33:83–88, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oyster tissues were isolated by saponification with aqueous potassium hydroxide and hexane partitioning. Extracts were purified by adsorption chromatography using silicic acid and alumina oxide followed by gel chromatography with either Sephadex LH-20 or Bio-Beads S-X8. Measurement of PAHs were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence detection. Recovery trials using NBS 1647a-spiked oyster homongenates revealed that the use of adsorption chromatography followed by gel chromatography was not effective in purifying extracts to allow the determination of lower ring PAH by HPLC or higher ring PAH by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

To review the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Australia, and consider needs for further research and prevention policies and programmes.

To determine whether the behaviour of participants based on perception of treatment group in a randomised trial contributed to clinical outcome.

Background:: Increasing numbers of pigmented skin lesions are being removed because of concern about possible malignancy. Objective:: Our purpose was to determine the ratio of benign to malignant pigmented tumors removed by different categories of physician and to verify whether any improvement had occurred after 5 years of educational programs. Methods:: All pigmented lesions submitted to a major histopathology service in the years 1989 and 1994 were assessed as to the category of physician who removed the lesion, tumor type, and age and sex of the patient. Results:: Dermatologists had the lowest benign/malignant ratio and general practitioners had the highest. General practitioners appeared to have difficulty differentiating both seborrheic keratoses and melanocytic nevi from malignant lesions; the frequency of these benign lesions was highly dependent on the age of the patient. During the 5-year period we observed an improvement among general practitioners in the benign/malignant ratio for melanocytic nevi, but not for seborrheic keratoses. Conclusion:: There is room for improvement by physicians in differentiating both melanocytic nevi and seborrheic keratoses from melanomas. This is especially true for general practitioners, from whom the public in Australia and in other countries is encouraged to first seek advice about a suspect pigmented lesion.

Abstract: Cholecystectomies in Victorian public hospitals were evaluated by analysis of hospital morbidity data. The Victorian Inpatient Minimum Dataset (VIMD) contains data on postoperative complications from all cholecystectomies in Victorian public hospitals. Hospital separations associated with cholecystectomy were identified according to Australian national diagnosis‐related groups and the procedures were grouped as open, laparoscopic or conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy (conversion). Postoperative complications were identified by ICD9‐CM external‐cause codes (E‐codes) in the VIMD. The 35 593 cholecystectomies performed between 1987–88 and 1993–94 were analysed. A further detailed analysis of all cholecystectomies performed in 1993 was based on logistic regression. This identified the adjusted odds (AOR) of occurrence of complications and included covariates of age, sex, admission type, diagnosis‐related group and hospital identification code. The annual frequency of cholecystectomy increased after introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1990, and was associated with an increase in rates of separations having adverse events, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy had the lowest rate (66.7 per 1000 separations). Adverse‐event rates for open procedures increased to 157.5 per 1000 in 1993‐94, and for conversions to 290.0 per 1000. Of 5627 cholecystectomies in 1993, 74.4 per cent were laparoscopic, 21.5 per cent open and 4.1 per cent conversions. Postoperative complications were more likely in males (AOR 1.67, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.38 to 2.04), in patients admitted as an emergency (1.27, CI 1.01 to 1.60), and in those having open cholecystectomies (2.25, 1.78 to 2.85) or conversions (4.29, 3.05 to 6.03). Analysis of the VIMD has provided information for the evaluation of cholecystectomy. The VIMD is a useful tool for monitoring postoperative complications and the quality of care in Victorian hospitals.

We examined the utility of echoplanar magnetic resonance perfusion imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting stroke evolution and outcome in 18 patients with acute hemispheric infarction.

Data on the factors affecting the accumulation of selenium in the cockle Anadara trapeziaand mullet Mugil cephalusare presented, together with the distribution and speciation of selenium in tissues. Selenium concentration in whole cockles showed a small but significant decrease with weight. No further decrease in selenium concentration was apparent once an organism reached 0.25 g dry weight. Selenium concentration in cockles was not dependent on sex. The tissue distribution of selenium concentration in cockles was in the order gill>intestine>adductor>mantle >foot.

Data on the factors affecting the accumulation of selenium in the cockle Anadara trapezia and mullet Mugil cephalus are presented, together with the distribution and speciation of selenium in tissues. Selenium concentration in whole cockles showed a small but significant decrease with weight. No further decrease in selenium concentration was apparent once an organism reached 0.25 g dry weight. Selenium concentration in cockles was not dependent on sex. The tissue distribution of selenium concentration in cockles was in the order gill>intestine>adductor>mantle >foot. Selenium concentrations in liver tissues of mullet increased with the whole weight of the fish. In contrast, selenium concentrations in muscle, stomach, heart and kidney tissues were fairly low and constant in fish weighing less than 200 g (20 cm in length). Fish of greater weight and size (>250 g and >30 cm) had higher and more variable selenium concentrations. No differences in selenium concentration between male and female fish occurred; however, the sex of many of the fish could not be distinguished. The tissue distribution of selenium concentration in mullet was in the order liver>stomach>heart>muscle>kidney. Most of the selenium recovered from both the cockle tissues and the mullet muscle tissues was found to be associated with proteins and to be present as selenocysteine. A conceptual model is presented for selenium transformations in marine organisms based on the formation of selenoamino-acids and subsequent incorporation into proteins. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) is a new independent facility for the investigation of disease near industrial installations in the UK. SAHSU analysed the incidence of cancers of the larynx and lung near the incinerator of waste solvents and oils at Charnock Richard, Coppull, Lancashire (which operated between 1972 and 1980) and nine other similar incinerators in Great Britain, after reports of a cluster of cases of cancer of the larynx near the Charnock Richard site. Postcoded cancer registration data were available for 1974-84 in England and Wales and 1975-87 in Scotland. Lag periods of 5 and 10 years were used between start-up (or first registration) of the incinerators and cancer incidence. Standardised observed/expected (O/E) ratios were assessed within 3 km and 3-10 km of each site and then aggregated over all sites. Expected values were based on national rates (regionally adjusted) with and without stratification by Carstairs' index, a measure of the socioeconomic profile of areas that uses census data for enumeration districts. Data were also assessed over a range of circles up to 10 km to test for trend in O/E ratios with distance. For Charnock Richard, none of the O/E ratios within 3 km or from 3-10 km differed significantly from unity, for either cancer or lag period. In the analysis of all sites with stratification by Carstairs' index, none of these O/E ratios differed significantly from unity for the two cancers. There was no evidence of decreasing risk with distance from the sites of either cancer. We conclude that the apparent cluster of cases of cancer of the larynx reported near Charnock Richard was unlikely to be due to its former incinerator.

By use of the postcoded database held by the Small Area Health Statistic Unit, cancer incidence of over 14 million people living near 72 municipal solid waste incinerators in Great Britain was examined from 1974-86 (England), 1974-84 (Wales) and 1975-87 (Scotland). Numbers of observed cases were compared with expected numbers calculated from national rates (regionally adjusted) after stratification by a deprivation index based on 1981 census small area statistics. Observed-expected ratios were tested for decline in risk with distance up to 7.5 km. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved a stratified random sample of 20 incinerators; the second the remaining 52 incinerators. Over the two stages of the study was a statistically significant (P<0.05) decline in risk with distance from incinerators for all cancers combined, stomach, colorectal, liver and lung cancer. Among these cancers in the second stage, the excess from 0 to 1 km ranged from 37% for liver cancer (0.95) excess cases 10(-5) per year to 5% for colorectal cancer. There was evidence of residual confounding near the incinerators, which seems to be a likely explanation of the finding for all cancers, stomach and lung, and also to explain at least part of the excess of liver cancer. For this reason and because of a substantial level of misdiagnosis (mainly secondary tumours) found among registrations and death certificates for liver cancer, further investigation, including histological review of the cases, is to be done to help determine whether or not there is an increase in primary liver cancer in the vicinity of incinerators.

A 64‐year‐old man presented with a change in personality and behaviour but with no neurological deficits. He exhibited impaired executive functions, apathy, unsteadiness of gait and falling; he lacked insight and exhibited purposeless behaviour, making loud grunting noises. A CT scan at 6 months revealed no abnormality, but at 9 months CT and MRI showed a bilateral thalamic tumour. The presenting symptoms had similarities to frontal lobe dysfunction progressing to dementia.

RECENTLY some ruby, grown by a vapour-phase process, has been found to be orange coloured rather than the normal pink. Some of this has been investigated as a potential maser material by taking a small sample (∼ 10 mg), containing 0.05 per cent Cr3+, double pumping at 23 kMc/s and observing the resulting inversion of the 2–3 transition at 9 kMc/s (Fig. 1). This was then compared with the inversion obtained from a sample of pink ruby of similar size and concentration, placed in the microwave cavity, alongside the orange ruby. The c axes of the two crystals were arranged to be at 90° to each other and at 45° to the radiofrequency magnetic field in order to achieve similar transition probabilities. The inversion ratio I, defined as: when measured at 1.4° K, was found to be 1.5 for the pink ruby, while that of the orange was much bigger, being of the order of 5.0 for most samples.

Herpetofauna populations are decreasing worldwide, and the range of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is expanding. Depredation of threatened reptile and amphibian populations by wild pigs could be substantial. By understanding depredation characteristics and rates, more resources can be directed toward controlling populations of wild pigs coincident with threatened or endangered herpetofauna populations. From April 2005 to March 2006 we used firearms to collect wild pigs (n = 68) and examined stomach content for reptiles and amphibians. We found 64 individual reptiles and amphibians, composed of 5 different species, that were consumed by wild pigs during an estimated 254 hours of foraging. Primarily arboreal species (e.g., Anolis carolinensis) became more vulnerable to depredation when temperatures were low and they sought thermal shelter. Other species (e.g., Scaphiopus holbrookii) that exhibit mass terrestrial migrations during the breeding season also faced increased vulnerability to depredation by wild pigs. Results suggest that wild pigs are opportunistic consumers that can exploit and potentially have a negative impact on species with particular life-history characteristics.

A case control study of lympho-haematopoietic cancers in the Australian petroleum industry was carried out, nested within an established cohort study. The results of the case control study show an association between previous benzene exposure and an increased risk of leukaemia. Cases and controls were classified into groups on the basis of their cumulative benzene exposure and odds ratios calculated by conditional logistic regression. The odds ratio for the highest exposed group was 98. There are, however, only small numbers of cases in each of the exposure categories and odds ratios are sensitive to changes to the inter-group cut-points or to the numbers of cases in the baseline comparison group. In addition, it was recognised that there may be some misclassification of workers between groups, particularly where the absolute differences between exposure groups are small, at the lower end of the exposure range