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Objectives: There is no consensus on the best approach to cervical surveillance during pregnancy: should all women have a transvaginal (TV) scan or can this be restricted to women with a short cervix on initial transabdominal (TA) assessment? This study compares TA and TV assessment of cervical length at 16–41 weeks gestation. Methods: TA and TV ultrasound measurements of cervical length were made at 16–41 weeks gestation. Cervical length was measured from internal to external os using the landmarks described by the FMF. Bland-Altman plots and paired t-tests were used to look at differences in TA and TV measurement. The screening efficacy of initial TA assessment in defining a group for TV evaluation is also reported. Results: 367 women participated including 273, 84 and 10 presenting at 16–23, 24–35 and >36 weeks respectively. Overall, the TA method underestimated cervical length by 2.5 mm (95% CI 1.7–3.4 mm). Bland Altman plots showed an inverse trend with shorter cervixes after 24 weeks. 17 women had a cervix 36 weeks. The sensitivity and specificity of TA assessment of cervical length at 24–36 weeks gestation were 1/10 (0.10) and 70/74 (0.95) respectively; positive and negative predictive values were 1/5 (0.20) and 70/79 (0.89). At >36 weeks the sensitivity was 0/6 (0.0) and the specificity was 2/4 (0.5). Conclusions: TA measurements do not reflect TV assessment accurately, particularly if the cervix is short ( 24 weeks gestation. There is no value in TA assessment of the cervix >36 weeks.

Context Worldwide, invasive fauna species present one of the most intractable problems for agriculture and natural systems. Our ability to improve control techniques to combat the global invasive species predicament is constrained within the bounds of both economic and ethical considerations. In south-eastern Australia, the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is an established invasive avian pest that is now making incursions into areas of Western Australia (WA) that are currently free of this species. The most cost-effective and widely implemented starling control tool is trapping with live-lure birds. In recent years, the use of live-lure birds has been questioned on both economic and ethical grounds, and consequently alternative lure methods need investigating. Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of different trap and lure combinations for the capture of starlings in western South Australia (SA). Methods Modified Australian Crow (MAC) traps, used traditionally in WA to trap starlings, and Myna traps, originally designed for trapping common mynas (Sturnus tristis), were set during the peaks in starling flocking activity (Austral summer, 2007) using three different lure types: (1) live lure (live starlings); (2) moving water; and (3) acoustic lures. A trapping grid consisting of a single Myna trap with live lure and three MAC traps, each with one type of lure (live, water or acoustic) was established at five sites on the Eyre Peninsula in SA and monitored twice daily for 28 days. Key results Live lures were significantly more effective at attracting starlings into traps compared with both water and sound lures. We also trapped at an additional three sites and showed that Myna traps caught ~1.5 times more starlings than MAC traps when both traps were fitted with live-lure birds. Conclusions Neither moving water nor acoustic play-back lures proved suitable replacements for the use of live-lure birds to capture starlings. The efficacy of alternative lure types may depend on several factors and may include neophobic response(s) to novel signals and also the length of time that an invasive population has been established. Implications We recommend that use of live lures is continued in ongoing starling control programs, and that MAC traps currently in use be modified to capitalise on known starling behaviour. Further research and development of traps that do not contain live lures will improve the welfare of invasive species control programs.

Dancers exhibit compliance problems in adopting advice from nutrition experts. Examination of the situation reveals an inherent culture clash between dancers and nutrition authorities. Dancers need safe methods of achieving an ultralean physique, but the recommendations of most nutritionists do not fit dancers* requirements. This manuscript is intended to provide the nutrition professional with insight into the dancer's needs and cultural/professional perspective on dieting. Dietary problems/disorders that are common among dancers are reviewed. Both general and specific recommendations are made for advising dancers and for designing their diets.

Sphingolipids have essential roles as structural components of cell membranes and in cell signalling, and disruption of their metabolism causes several diseases, with diverse neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic consequences. Increasingly, variants within a few of the genes that encode enzymes involved in sphingolipid metabolism are being associated with complex disease phenotypes. Direct experimental evidence supports a role of specific sphingolipid species in several common complex chronic disease processes including atherosclerotic plaque formation, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, pancreatic β-cell failure, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, sphingolipids represent novel and important intermediate phenotypes for genetic analysis, yet little is known about the major genetic variants that influence their circulating levels in the general population. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) between 318,237 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and levels of circulating sphingomyelin (SM), dihydrosphingomyelin (Dih-SM), ceramide (Cer), and glucosylceramide (GluCer) single lipid species (33 traits); and 43 matched metabolite ratios measured in 4,400 subjects from five diverse European populations. Associated variants (32) in five genomic regions were identified with genome-wide significant corrected p-values ranging down to 9.08×10−66. The strongest associations were observed in or near 7 genes functionally involved in ceramide biosynthesis and trafficking: SPTLC3, LASS4, SGPP1, ATP10D, and FADS1–3. Variants in 3 loci (ATP10D, FADS3, and SPTLC3) associate with MI in a series of three German MI studies. An additional 70 variants across 23 candidate genes involved in sphingolipid-metabolizing pathways also demonstrate association (p = 10−4 or less). Circulating concentrations of several key components in sphingolipid metabolism are thus under strong genetic control, and variants in these loci can be tested for a role in the development of common cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and psychiatric diseases., Author Summary Although several rare monogenic diseases are caused by defects in enzymes involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis and metabolism, little is known about the major variants that control the circulating levels of these important bioactive molecules. As well as being essential components of plasma membranes and endosomes, sphingolipids play critical roles in cell surface protection, protein and lipid transport and sorting, and cellular signalling cascades. Experimental evidence supports a role for sphingolipids in several common complex chronic metabolic, cardiovascular, or neurological disease processes. Therefore, sphingolipids represent novel and important intermediate phenotypes for genetic analysis, and discovering the genetic variants that influence their circulating concentrations is an important step towards understanding how the genetic control of sphingolipids might contribute to common human disease. We have identified 32 variants in 7 genes that have a strong effect on the circulating plasma levels of 33 distinct sphingolipids, and 43 matched metabolite ratios. In a series of 3 German MI studies, we see association with MI for variants in 3 of the genes tested. Further cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and psychiatric disease associations can be tested with the variants described here, which may identify additional disease risk and potentially useful therapeutic targets.

The day roosting behaviour of the little forest bat (Vespadelus vulturnus), Australia’s smallest bat, was investigated in the context of the planned removal of dead timber within managed woodlands on Phillip Island, Victoria. Between August 1999 and March 2000, 14 female little forest bats were fitted with VHF microtransmitters and tracked to a total of 16 roost trees. All roosts were located in dead timber, 11 in severely decayed remains of eucalypt trees, and five in dead sections of live trees. Roost trees were compared with randomly chosen trees from within the available habitat, for a range of tree characteristics. Female little forest bats selected roosts in trees with dead timber offering many hollows and reduced canopy cover. Furthermore, roost trees were located in areas (0.1-ha plots) with higher densities of these types of trees than in the available habitat. However, there was no difference in the height or diameter of roost trees or roost plots compared with available habitat. Emergence time from roosts was strongly associated with civil twilight (when the centre of the sun is 6° below an ideal horizon), and the number of bats exiting a single roost tree ranged from 1 to 120 (median = 20). Dead trees provide critical roosting habitat and we recommend retention of dead standing trees for conserving little forest bat roosts in managed woodlands.

We present a technological improvement to the use of game shows to help students review for tests. Our approach uses HTML files interpreted with a browser on a computer attached to an LCD projector. The HTML files can be easily modified for use of the game in a variety of courses.

(2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Amarigiri SV, Lees TA. . Elastic compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. . ;(3):CD001484 (latest version 8 Nov 1999). . QUESTION: Are graduated compression stockings effective and safe for preventing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in hospital patients? Randomised controlled trials were identified by the Cochrane Review Group on Peripheral Vascular Diseases, who searched EMBASE/Excerpta Medica and Medline and handsearched relevant medical journals and Index Medicus . Manufacturers were also contacted. Trials were selected if stockings for the prevention of DVT were studied in any hospital patients, stockings were compared with no prophylaxis or another method of prophylaxis, and outcomes of DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), or complications of stocking use were measured. DVT had to be identified by ultrasound, venogram, or isotope studies, and PE had to be identified by ventilation perfusion lung scan, pulmonary angiogram, or postmortem examination. Data were extracted on study quality; patient age, sex, and risk category for DVT; type and …

my calculator to help average grades. With the touch of a button, these teachers would store pages and pages of information while my fingers were smudged with tell-tale purple ditto traces and my filing cabinets were stuffed to capacity. Even my students were speaking a language that sounded familiar but was foreign in meaning. Obviously, they were excited about the computer course they were required to take. This puzzled me. Since when are students enthused about anything they are required to do?