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Context. Invasive non-native species are on the rise worldwide, exacerbating already significant environmental and economic impacts. Concurrently, public attitudes towards methods of controlling these species are changing, with greater demand for non-lethal solutions. This has fostered research into developing new, effective technologies and strategies for wildlife management. Aims. On the basis of a case study focusing on the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in the UK, this study aimed to understand the potential for population management, using either live trapping or oral contraception. First, assuming completely coordinated landscapescale control, and then, coordinated control only on parts of the landscape, accounting for the potential that landowners’ attitudes towards alternative methods may differ and reflect those of the wider public. Methods. We used an existing spatially explicit individual-based modelling approach applying various parameterisations to define management. We varied the density of traps or hoppers delivering contraceptives, the duration of deployment, contraceptive efficacy, initial population size, and the probability of landowner participation. The latter was based on a previous public survey, suggesting that 40% of the respondents were open to management using trapping and 64% to using contraception. Key results. With complete coordinated control, trapping was generally faster and more cost-effective than was contraception. However, when differences in social acceptance were considered, reducing participation and, consequently, the spatial coverage of management, contraception wasfound to maintain greater population reductions than was trapping with similar effort, assuming a contraceptive efficacy of 75% or higher. Conclusions. This study added another layer of complexity to managing invasive non-native species, namely the potential effect that landowners’ attitudes to different methods of population management might have on the level of coordinated control at landscape scale. In a situation such as the one modelled by this study, where management is not a legal requirement, this human dimension must be considered alongside cost-effectiveness, to develop successful control in line with management goals. Implications. Further work isrequired to establish the actual attitudes of landowners, and in different contexts (e.g. urban, rural areas), how this may change as new approaches become available, and then how spatial variation (clustering) in the resulting wildlife population control may affect outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The most common complication during sinus graft surgery is tearing or perforation of the Schneiderian membrane. Perforations are most likely to occur if the sinus membrane is thin. Preoperative prediction of the antral membrane thickness may be of practical importance during maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze a possible association between gingival phenotypes and thickness of the healthy sinus mucosa. Materials and Methods: Twenty consecutive patients without preoperative anamnestic, clinical, or radiologic signs of maxillary sinus pathologies were enrolled in the study. During otorhinolaringologic surgical interventions, maxillary mucosal biopsy specimens were endoscopically obtained from the sinus floor, and gingival thickness was measured at the maxillary anterior teeth. Results: Eleven out of 20 individuals had thick gingival tissues, and the remaining 9 presented with thin gingivai phenotype. The average thickness of the Schneiderian membrane was 0.97 ± 0.36 mm with a wide inter-individual variability. Thickness of the sinus mucosa amounted to 1.26 ± 0.14 mm in individuals with thick gingival architecture and 0.61 ± 0.15 mm in subjects with thin gingival tissues. The association between thickness of the antral mucosa and periodontal phenotypes was statistically significant (P < .0001). Conclusions: Gingival thickness seems to represent a reliable parameter to predict sinus membrane thickness. Further investigations are needed to support these preliminary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autogenous grafting of gingival or bone tissue is often indicated to obtain optimal esthetics and function in periodontal and implant therapy. In the present study, 32 maxillary teeth were extracted, and the postextraction defects were treated with 32 autogenous cylindric free gingival-bone grafts retrieved with trephine burs from intraoral donor sites. Free gingival-bone grafts were also used to obtain root coverage and papilla reconstruction in three patients who required esthetic enhancement. Twelve to 16 weeks after the graft procedure, biopsies were retrieved and processed for histologic evaluation to verify integration of the grafts. The implants placed in the treated sites healed without complications and were functionally loaded after healing. The clinical and histologic results of this study suggest that the free gingival-bone graft technique may favor hard and soft tissue reconstruction of the sites treated, with esthetic and functional advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors evaluated the health of the maxillary sinus in a group of 18 patients who had undergone sinus lift surgery for implantation purposes, using computed tomography and endoscopic imaging as a means of diagnosis. The study was performed after a mean interval of 31 months. All sinus lift operations were carried out using the lateral flap technique. The authors evaluated graft characteristics and intraoperative and postoperative complications and compared the results with computed tomography and endoscopic images. Endoscopy of a maxillary sinus that underwent microlaceration of the mucosa during sinus lifting showed a situation compatible with healthy conditions. In cases complicated by macrolaceration, the endoscopic picture was typical of sinusitis, even where clinical conditions of this type were not present. In the absence of intraoperative complications, the endoscopic appearance of sinus mucosa appears to improve when autologous graft material is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histological and histomorphometrical examination were the gold standard in the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the peri-implant tissue around the implant. In recent years, the field of microscopy has witnessed a considerable enhancement of the performance of microscopes that have very high resolution performance and allowing very sophisticated analysis even larger than traditional preparations. The possibility to have an affordable analyses of whole implant with the surrounding different tissues (soft and hard tissues) without the traditional pre-treatment necessary for the histological analysis may represent a goal to describe material properties and behaviors or simply to visualize structural details. The aim of the present study were to evaluate a 3D X-ray microscopic analysis of peri-implant tissue compared to a traditional histological and histomorphometrical analysis of the peri-implant tissues around an implant with a conical connection associated with platform-switching in order to assess the validity of the new analysis technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nepal, most dogs are free to roam and may transmit diseases to humans and animals. These dogs often suffer from malnutrition and lack basic health care. Minimal information is available about their demographics and about public attitudes concerning dogs and diseases. We carried out a study in Chitwan District (central Nepal), to collect baseline data on free-roaming owned dog demographics, assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of dog owners concerning dogs and rabies, evaluate rabies vaccination coverage and anthelmintic treatment of dogs, measure dogs' response to rabies vaccination and assess dog health through body condition scores and parasites. We conducted household interviews with owners of free-roaming female dogs ( n = 60) and administered dogs with rabies vaccination and anthelmintics. Dog owners regularly fed free-roaming dogs but provided minimal health care; 42% of respondents did not claim ownership of the dog for which they provided care. We collected skin, faecal and blood samples for parasite identification and for measuring rabies virus-specific antibodies. Ninety-two per cent of dog owners were aware of the routes of rabies virus transmission, but only 35% described the correct post-exposure prophylaxis ( PEP) following a dog bite. Twenty-seven per cent of the dogs had measurable rabies virus-specific antibody titres and 14% had received anthelmintics in the previous year. Following rabies vaccination, 97% of dogs maintained an adequate antibody titre for ≥6 months. Most dogs appeared healthy, although haemoprotozoans, endoparasites and ectoparasites were identified in 12%, 73% and 40% of the dogs, respectively. Poor skin condition and parasite load were associated. Seventy-four per cent of the females had litters in 1 year (mean litter size = 4.5). Births occurred between September and February; we estimated 60% mortality in puppies. We concluded that vaccination coverage, PEP awareness and anthelmintic treatment should be emphasized in educational programmes focussed on animal welfare, veterinary and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]