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This study provides an experimental investigation of the consequences of conflict between children's personal identities and experimentally manipulated group identities. Elementary-school-aged children (N = 82, ages 5-11) attending a summer school program rated their own academic and athletic abilities and were then randomly assigned to one of two novel groups. Children's views of the academic and athletic skills of the novel groups were assessed both before and after information about the groups' academic and athletic skills was manipulated via posters placed in their classrooms. Following the manipulation, children's self-views, ingroup identification, and intergroup attitudes were assessed. Results indicated that (a) in the absence of information about the novel groups, children projected their personal identities onto their ingroup identities, (b) children maintained their ingroup identities in the face of new information that should have altered their ingroup identities, and (c) more positive personal identities predicted ingroup bias, which in turn predicted happiness with one's ingroup membership. The latter finding suggests that a tendency for children to generalize from their idiosyncratic positive self-views, rather than an indiscriminate desire for self-enhancement or positivity, may be responsible for ingroup bias. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: More than 13 million adolescents sustain traumatic injuries yearly, resulting in functional disability, disfigurement, psychosocial problems, and fractures that are increasingly treated with orthopaedic external fixation devices. Little is known about the experiences of injured adolescents. METHOD: This longitudinal, qualitative descriptive study described the experiences of traumatically injured adolescents treated with external fixation devices. RESULTS: Analysis of data from 26 open-ended, semistructured interviews with 5 male and 4 female adolescents revealed a struggle to return 'to their old self' only to recognize that they were 'forever changed.' Major themes included what risk? (circumstances leading to the traumatic event), processing the event, suck it up and deal with it (strategies), space-age robot, and they'll do it themselves (pin care self-management). CONCLUSION: Their experiences affected all tasks of adolescence: independence from parents, accepting body image, peer relations, and forming an identity. Findings related to the use of self-administered analgesics, information technology, recall of detail, and gender differences in coping may lead to future interventions and lay the groundwork for future studies that may improve care of adolescents during acute recovery from traumatic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether cohesion served to mediate the relationship between fitness leader behavior and an exerciser's affective state. The participants were 151 adults (115 females and 36 males) enrolled in various physical activity programs. Following one of their exercise classes, each participant completed a questionnaire that assessed fitness leader behaviors (commitment to service quality, interpersonal interaction, and task interaction), cohesion (individual attractions to the group-task and -social, group integration-task and -social), and affect (positive affect, negative affect, fatigue, tranquility). Two specific mediation relationships were found: (a) Individual attractions to the group-task served to mediate the relationship between fitness leader behavior of task interaction and positive affect, and (b) individual attractions to the group-task served to mediate the relationship between exercise leader behavior of task interaction and negative affect. Based on the results, it would appear important that fitness leaders strive to develop more cohesive exercise classes through the use of team-building activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Many state, federal, and foundation resources have been invested in improving the recruitment of primary care providers to rural communities. The Southern Rural Access Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has provided varying levels of support to several southern states to assist with retention of those providers. PURPOSE: This study describes the strategies that 6 states used to develop and implement practice management technical assistance services for rural health care providers. METHODS: Practice managers in each of the 6 states were surveyed regarding how their service was structured, what types of entities were eligible, and the nature of the technical assistance offered. Information regarding what types of entities used the service, characteristics of the practices, and the number of practices served was also collected. FINDINGS: The survey results showed that almost half (46%) of all practices assisted were private stand-alone physician practices, with overall practice assessments being the practice management service rendered most often. Although the type of organisational home for the technical assistance services varied by state, overall states employed an average of 1.67 full-time equivalent practice managers (0.81 full-time equivalent supported by RWJF) and received an average of $136,055 per state from the RWJF for the 2-year period beginning April 2002 for practice management support. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study found that the type of organizational home did not appear to affect the type of technical assistance services offered. However, the type of orgnizational home did appear to affect what types of providers used the service, with trade associations assisting their members or constituents at least half the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nerve transfers to reinnervate ulnar intrinsic musculature can restore function in severe ulnar neuropathy, and supercharged end-to-side (SETS) nerve transfers have garnered early adoption. Given the relative expendability of the abductor digiti minimi (ADM), redirecting its axons to more critical components of the ulnar motor nerve (UMN) in a turbocharged end-to-side (TETS) nerve transfer with concomitant anterior interosseous SETS nerve transfer (AIN) as a super-turbocharged end-to-side (STETS) or twin-charged double nerve transfer may improve functional recovery., Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing the STETS AIN/ADM to UMN double nerve transfer or TETS ADM to UMN nerve transfer for severe ulnar neuropathy between 2020 and 2022 was performed. Primary outcomes were improvement in first dorsal interosseous (FDI) strength and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. Dichotomous and continuous variables were compared with χ 2 and t tests, respectively., Results: Fifty patients with severe ulnar nerve injuries were identified with at least 1-year surgical follow-up. Preoperative symptom duration was an average of 11.3 months. The STETS cohort (n = 42) reported significantly decreased DASH scores from 58 to 28 ( P < .001) and improved FDI Medical Research Council (MRC) score from 0.7 to 3.3 ( P < .001). The TETS cohort (n = 8) reported significantly decreased DASH scores from 54 to 23 ( P = .016) and improved FDI MRC score from 2.0 to 3.6 ( P = .008)., Conclusions: Distal transfer of the ADM nerve to the ulnar deep motor branch in a turbocharged fashion is reported. The findings suggest that the STETS double nerve transfer may improve patient outcomes and warrants further investigation with prospective cohort studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Social-emotional skills (e.g., emotion regulation) influence a variety of academic outcomes among children. This study examined the relations of coping strategies and cognitive emotion regulation (CER) to academic achievement goals and academic performance among Chinese children ( N  = 401, age M  = 10.52 years). Full Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis showed that children's use of active coping strategies was positively associated with their endorsement of performance approach and mastery avoidance goals. Avoidant and support-seeking coping strategies were not associated with any outcome variables. Maladaptive CER was positively associated with performance approach, performance avoidance, and mastery avoidance goals and negatively associated with academic performance; adaptive CER was positively associated with mastery approach goals but not associated with other outcome variables. The current study provided some preliminary evidence to indicate that active coping strategies, maladaptive CER, and adaptive CER were associated with academic achievement goals and academic performance among Chinese children. Although maladaptive CER was not used as often as adaptive CER by Chinese children, the more they used maladaptive CER, the more likely they were to have academic achievement goals that focused on things other than learning itself, whereas the more Chinese children used adaptive CER, the more likely they were to set an achievement goal to master the knowledge. Therefore, in teaching practices or intervention planning, decreasing maladaptive CER strategies may be as important as cultivating adaptive CER strategies to facilitate academic success among Chinese children., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Chen-Bouck, Patterson and Peng.)

Although research has identified the impact of school connectedness on a variety of outcomes for adolescents, much less work has focused on identifying its precursors. This study examined the relative influences of classroom interactions and parental support on elements of school connectedness among a sample of 4838 students (M age  = 15.84, SD = 0.29; 49.1% female) in the United States from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 data. The results showed that three domains of classroom interactions (i.e., classroom management, instructional support, and emotional support) and parental support played unique roles in predicting school connectedness (i.e., teacher support and school belonging). Specifically, classroom management positively predicted both teacher support and school belonging; instructional support, especially directed instruction, positively predicted teacher support; emotional support was unrelated to teacher support and school belonging. Parental support positively predicted school belonging, but not teacher support. Overall, these findings highlight the roles of both teachers and parents in providing developmentally appropriate support to facilitate school connectedness., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Late-onset peripheral neuropathy (LPN) is a heritable canine neuropathy commonly found in Labrador retrievers and is characterized by laryngeal paralysis and pelvic limb paresis. Our objective was to establish canine LPN as a model for human hereditary peripheral neuropathy by classifying it as either an axonopathy or myelinopathy and evaluating length-dependent degeneration. We conducted a motor nerve conduction study of the sciatic and ulnar nerves, electromyography (EMG) of appendicular and epaxial musculature, and histologic analysis of sciatic and recurrent laryngeal nerves in LPN-affected and control dogs. LPN-affected dogs exhibited significant decreases in compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, CMAP area, and pelvic limb latencies. However, no differences were found in motor nerve conduction velocity, residual latencies, or CMAP duration. Distal limb musculature showed greater EMG changes in LPN-affected dogs. Histologically, LPN-affected dogs exhibited a reduction in the number of large-diameter axons, especially in distal nerve regions. In conclusion, LPN in Labrador retrievers is a common, spontaneous, length-dependent peripheral axonopathy that is a novel animal model of age-related peripheral neuropathy that could be used for fundamental research and clinical trials., (© 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Comparative Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The arcade of Struthers was first proposed by Kane et al in 1973. Clinical investigations of this structure have been limited to small case series, focusing on the arcade as an isolated cause of compressive ulnar neuropathy. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of this structure in patients undergoing ulnar nerve transposition., Methods: A retrospective chart review of prospectively maintained data in a single surgeon's practice was performed. Records of patients undergoing surgery for compressive ulnar neuropathy at the cubital tunnel were evaluated for documentation of a compressive arcade of Struthers. In addition, a scoping review of the literature was undertaken to better characterize current understanding of this structure and its recognition in clinical practice., Results: A total of 197 patients underwent ulnar nerve transposition. The overall incidence of a compressive arcade of Struthers was noted to be 67 out of 197 (34%). All patients with a compressive arcade were noted to have an internal brachial ligament running below the nerve. Patients undergoing revision surgery were found to have a compressive arcade 51% of the time (20/39), whereas 30% of patients undergoing primary surgery were found to have a compressive arcade (47/158). Only 12 clinical studies examining the arcade of Struthers have been published in the last 20 years, the majority being single case reports., Conclusions: Compression of the ulnar nerve by the arcade of Struthers is a common finding and can contribute to compressive ulnar neuropathy at the elbow both in primary and revision cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Spontaneous rupture of tendons and ligaments is common in several species including humans. In horses, degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) is an important acquired idiopathic disease of a major energy-storing tendon-like structure. DSLD risk is increased in several breeds, including the Peruvian Horse. Affected horses have often been used for breeding before the disease is apparent. Breed predisposition suggests a substantial genetic contribution, but heritability and genetic architecture of DSLD have not been determined. Methods: To identify genomic regions associated with DSLD, we recruited a reference population of 183 Peruvian Horses, phenotyped as DSLD cases or controls, and undertook a genome-wide association study (GWAS), a regional window variance analysis using local genomic partitioning, a signatures of selection (SOS) analysis, and polygenic risk score (PRS) prediction of DSLD risk. We also estimated trait heritability from pedigrees. Results: Heritability was estimated in a population of 1,927 Peruvian horses at 0.22 ± 0.08. After establishing a permutation-based threshold for genome-wide significance, 151 DSLD risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by GWAS. Multiple regions of enriched local heritability were identified across the genome, with strong enrichment signals on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 10, 13, 16, 18, 22, and the X chromosome. With SOS analysis, there were 66 genes with a selection signature in DSLD cases that was not present in the control group that included the TGFB3 gene. Pathways enriched in DSLD cases included proteoglycan metabolism, extracellular matrix homeostasis, and signal transduction pathways that included the hedgehog signaling pathway. The best PRS predictive performance was obtained when we fitted 1% of top SNPs using a Bayesian Ridge Regression model which achieved the highest mean of R 2 on both the probit and logit liability scales, indicating a strong predictive performance. Discussion: We conclude that within-breed GWAS of DSLD in the Peruvian Horse has further confirmed that moderate heritability and a polygenic architecture underlies the trait and identified multiple DSLD SNP associations in novel tendinopathy candidate genes influencing disease risk. Pathways enriched with DSLD risk variants include ones that influence glycosaminoglycan metabolism, extracellular matrix homeostasis, signal transduction pathways., Competing Interests: PM, MM, SS, and SB are involved in setting up a genetic screening test for risk of DSLD in the Peruvian Horse at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Momen, Brauer, Patterson, Sample, Binversie, Davis, Cothran, Rosa, Brounts and Muir.)

Objective: To determine the presentation, diagnosis, progression, and family risk of fibrotic myopathy, a disease with marked breed predisposition in the German Shepherd Dog (GSD)., Animals: 41 dogs prospectively recruited to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Comparative Genetics and Orthopedic Laboratory between November 2019 to August 2022., Methods: Medical records of dogs diagnosed with fibrotic myopathy were reviewed upon referral. The following data were recorded: sex, age, weight, regio interscapularis (withers) height, date of neutering, coat color and length, and age at fibrotic myopathy diagnosis. A pedigree was also obtained., Results: In the study population, breeds included 37 GSDs, a Belgian Malinois, a Belgian Malinois cross, and 2 dogs with a GSD phenotype and no pedigree. Mean age at fibrotic myopathy diagnosis was 5.9 ± 2.0 years, and duration of lameness before diagnosis was 5.6 months and ranged from 0.75 to 18 months. Males were overrepresented at 61% of the study population. Inherited familial risk for fibrotic myopathy in the GSD was supported by pedigree analysis., Clinical Relevance: This was the largest case series of fibrotic myopathy to date, providing a more comprehensive look at presentation and progression of the disease. The longer duration of lameness in bilaterally affected dogs likely represents disease progression rather than a more severe phenotype. Family history data support a genetic contribution to fibrotic myopathy, suggesting that further genetic investigation is warranted.

Background: Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries cause chronic pain, disability, and long-term reductions in quality of life. However, their incidence after extremity trauma remains poorly understood., Methods: The IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database from 2010 to 2015 was used to identify patients aged 18 to 64 who presented to emergency departments for upper and/or lower extremity traumas. Cumulative incidences were calculated for nerve injuries diagnosed within 2 years of trauma. Cox regression models were developed to evaluate the associations between upper extremity nerve injury and chronic pain, disability, and use of physical therapy or occupational therapy., Results: The final cohort consisted of 1 230 362 patients with employer-sponsored health plans. Nerve injuries were diagnosed in 2.6% of upper extremity trauma patients and 1.2% of lower extremity trauma patients. Only 9% and 38% of nerve injuries were diagnosed by the time of emergency department and hospital discharge, respectively. Patients with nerve injuries were more likely to be diagnosed with chronic pain (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-8.2), use physical therapy services (HR: 10.7, 95% CI, 8.8-13.1), and use occupational therapy services (HR: 19.2, 95% CI, 15.4-24.0) more than 90 days after injury., Conclusions: The incidence of nerve injury in this national cohort was higher than previously reported. A minority of injuries were diagnosed by emergency department or hospital discharge. These findings may improve practitioner awareness and inform public health interventions for injury prevention.

Introduction. Helicobacter suis ( Helicobacter heilmannii type 1) commonly infects nonhuman primates but its clinical importance is in question. Aim. To characterize H. suis infection in a colony of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) used in cognitive neuroscience research. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Inquiries into the nature of Helicobacter suis in nonhuman primates are required to further define the organism's virulence and the experimental animal's gastric microbiome. Methodology. Animals with and without clinical signs of vomiting and abdominal pain ( n =5 and n =16, respectively) were evaluated by histology, culture, PCR amplification and sequencing, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and serology. Three of the five animals with clinical signs, an index case and two others, were evaluated before and after antimicrobial therapy. Results. The index animal had endoscopically visible ulcers and multifocal, moderate, chronic lymphoplasmacytic gastritis with intraglandular and luminal spiral bacteria. Antimicrobial therapy in the index animal achieved histologic improvement, elimination of endoscopically visible ulcers, and evident eradication but clinical signs persisted. In the other treated animals, gastritis scores were not consistently altered, gastric bacteria persisted, but vomiting and abdominal discomfort abated.Nineteen of 21 animals were PCR positive for H. suis and five animals were also PCR positive for H. pylori . Organisms were detected by FISH in 17 of 21 animals: 16S rRNA sequences of two of these were shown to be H. suis . Mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic gastritis was seen in antrum, body and cardia, with antral gastritis more likely to be moderate than that of the body. Conclusion. No clear association between the bacterial numbers of Helicobacter spp. and the degree of inflammation was observed. H. suis is prevalent in this colony of Macaca mulatta but its clinical importance remains unclear. This study corroborates many of the findings in earlier studies of H. suis infection in macaques but also identifies at least one animal in which gastritis and endoscopically visible gastric ulcers were strongly associated with H. suis infection. In this study, serology was an inadequate biomarker for endoscopic evaluation in diagnosis of H. suis infection.

The supercharge end-to-side anterior interosseous to ulnar motor nerve transfer has gained popularity over the past decade as a method of augmenting intrinsic muscle reinnervation in patients with acute neurotmetic ulnar nerve injuries. Controversy remains regarding its efficacy and appropriate clinical indications in cubital tunnel syndrome, where the timing of onset of axonal loss is less clear. The authors present guidelines for patient selection, surgical technique, and postoperative rehabilitation based on their clinical experience with the technique in this patient population. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic, V.

Background: Ulnar nerve transposition (UNT) surgery is performed for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Improperly performed UNT can create iatrogenic pain and neuropathy. The aim of this study is to identify anatomical structures distal to the medial epicondyle that should be recognized by all surgeons performing UNT to prevent postoperative neuropathy. Methods : Ten cadaveric specimens were dissected with attention to the ulnar nerve. Intramuscular UNT surgery was simulated in each. Distal to the medial epicondyle, any anatomical structure prohibiting transposition of the ulnar nerve to a straight-line course across the flexor-pronator mass was noted and its distance from the medial epicondyle was measured. Results : Seven structures were found distal to the medial epicondyle whose recognition is critical to ensuring a successful anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve: (1) Branches of the medial antebrachial cutaneous (MABC) nerve; (2) Osborne's fascia; (3) branches from the ulnar nerve to the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU); (4) crossing vascular branches from the ulnar artery to the FCU; (5) the distal medial intermuscular septum between the FCU and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS); (6) the combined muscular origins of the flexor-pronator muscles; and (7) the investing fascia of the FDS. Measurements are given for each structure. Conclusions : Poor outcomes and unnecessary revision surgeries for cubital tunnel syndrome can be avoided with intraoperative attention to 7 structures distal to the medial epicondyle. Surgeons should expect to dissect up to 12 cm distal to the medial epicondyle to adequately address these and prevent kinking of the nerve in transposition.

In this monograph, we argue for the establishment of a developmental science of politics that describes, explains, and predicts the formation and change of individuals' political knowledge, attitudes, and behavior beginning in childhood and continuing across the life course. Reflecting our goal of contributing both theoretical conceptualizations and empirical data, we have organized the monograph into two broad sections. In the first section, we outline theoretical contributions that the study of politics may make to developmental science and provide practical reasons that empirical research in the domain of politics is important (e.g., for identifying ways to improve civics education and for encouraging higher voting rates among young adults). We also review major historical approaches to the study of political development and provide an integrative theoretical framework to ground future work. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model as an organizing scheme and emphasizing social justice issues, we describe how factors rooted in cultural contexts, families, and children themselves are likely to shape political development. In the second section of the monograph, we argue for the importance and utility of studying major political events, such as presidential elections, and introduce the major themes, rationales, and hypotheses for a study of U.S. children's views of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In addition, we apply a social-justice lens to political thought and participation, addressing the role of gender/sex and race/ethnicity in children's political development broadly, and in their knowledge and views of the 2016 U.S. presidential election specifically. In interviews conducted within the month before and after the election, we examined two overarching categories of children's political attitudes: (a) knowledge, preferences, and expectations about the 2016 election, and (b) knowledge and attitudes concerning gender/sex and politics, particularly relevant for the 2016 election given Hillary Clinton's role as the first female major-party candidate for the presidency. Participants were 187 children (101 girls) between 5 and 11 years of age (M = 8.42 years, SD = 1.45 years). They were recruited from schools and youth organizations in five counties in four U.S. states (Kansas, Kentucky, Texas, and Washington) with varying voting patterns (e.g., Trump voters ranged from 27% to 71% of county voters). The sample was not a nationally representative one, but was racially diverse (35 African American, 50 Latinx, 81 White, and 21 multiracial, Asian American, Middle Eastern, or Native American children). In addition to several child characteristics (e.g., age, social dominance orientation [SDO]), we assessed several family and community characteristics (e.g., child-reported parental interest in the election and government-reported county-level voting patterns, respectively) hypothesized to predict outcome variables. Although our findings are shaped by the nature of our sample (e.g., our participants were less likely to support Trump than children in larger, nationwide samples were), they offer preliminary insights into children's political development. Overall, children in our sample were interested in and knowledgeable about the presidential election (e.g., a large majority identified the candidates correctly and reported some knowledge about their personal qualities or policy positions). They reported more information about Donald Trump's than Hillary Clinton's policies, largely accounted for by the substantial percentage of children (41%) who referred to Trump's immigration policies (e.g., building a wall between the United States and Mexico). Overall, children reported as many negative as positive personal qualities of the candidates, with negative qualities being reported more often for Trump than for Clinton (56% and 18% of children, respectively). Most children (88%) supported Clinton over Trump, a preference that did not vary by participants' gender/sex or race/ethnicity. In their responses to an open-ended inquiry about their reactions to Trump's win, 63% of children reported negative and 18% reported positive emotions. Latinx children reacted more negatively to the election outcome than did White children. Girls' and boys' emotional responses to the election outcome did not differ. Children's personal interest in serving as U.S. president did not vary across gender/sex or racial/ethnic groups (overall, 42% were interested). Clinton's loss of the election did not appear to depress (or pique) girls' interest in becoming U.S. president. With respect to the role of gender/sex in politics, many children (35%) were ignorant about women's absence from the U.S. presidency. Only a single child was able to name a historical individual who worked for women's civil rights or suffrage. Child characteristics predicted some outcome variables. For example, as expected, older children showed greater knowledge about the candidates than did younger children. Family and community characteristics also predicted some outcome variables. For example, as expected, participants were more likely to support Trump if they perceived that their parents supported him and if Trump received a greater percentage of votes in the children's county of residence. Our data suggest that civic education should be expanded and reformed. In addition to addressing societal problems requiring political solutions, civics lessons should include the histories of social groups' political participation, including information about gender discrimination and the women's suffrage movement in U.S. political history. Providing children with environments that are rich in information related to the purpose and value of politics, and with opportunities and encouragement for political thought and action, is potentially beneficial for youth and their nations., (© 2019 Society for Research in Child Development.)

Meloxicam is the most frequently used NSAID in birds; however, its elimination t 1/2 is highly variable among species. Because zebra finches that require analgesia could benefit from receiving meloxicam, we performed a pharmacokinetic study involving a single intramuscular dose of 1 or 2 mg/kg. Data analysis showed that C max , t 1/2 , and elimination rate constants were not significantly different between the 2 doses. In contrast, C max for 1- and 2-mg/kg doses of meloxicam approached a significant difference, and those for AUC 0-∞ were significantly different. Importantly, a plasma concentration of 3500 ng/mL, considered a target level for meloxicam in other avian species, was maintained for approximately 9.5 h in finches that received 2 mg/kg, which was 4 h longer than in birds given 1 mg/kg. Both doses reached low plasma concentrations by 12 h after administration. Subsequently, 8 total doses of 1 or 2 mg/kg were administered to birds at 12-h intervals; these regimens caused no significant changes in select biochemical analytes or the Hct of meloxicam-treated birds. In addition, histopathologic changes for injection sites, kidney, liver, proventriculus, and ventriculus were minimal and similar between control and experimental groups after the multiple doses. These results suggest a 12-h or more frequent dosing interval is likely needed in zebra finches and that meloxicam at 1 or 2 mg/kg IM twice daily for 4 d is safe. The higher dose might provide longer analgesia compared with the lower dose, but a pharmacodynamics evaluation of meloxicam in zebra finches is needed to confirm analgesic efficacy.

Despite the importance of political engagement, the topic has been the subject of little empirical research in developmental psychology, particularly with preadolescent samples. As a commonly available and developmentally appropriate source of media messages, picture books may inform young children about politics and influence their political engagement and aspirations. This study presents a content analysis of all books included on The New York Times best sellers list for children's picture books from 2012 to 2017. Books were reviewed for depictions of political issues, political processes, political leaders, symbols associated with politics or political leadership, and government employees. Nearly half of the books in the sample included at least one instance of politically relevant content. Relatively few books included depictions of political issues or processes. More books contained depictions of political leaders. Democratic leaders represented were predominantly historical figures, and were largely men and White. Relative to democratic leaders, monarchical leaders were more likely to be girls or women and to be children and were less likely to engage in political processes or decisions. The findings suggest that although many picture books contain some politically relevant content, picture books represent a missed opportunity for many aspects of political socialization.

Background: Although good sleep during hospitalization may promote positive outcomes, some patients and clinicians may have concerns about nursing interventions designed to reduce night-time sleep disturbances., Methods: A randomized prospective trial of an intervention to promote sleep was conducted with stable, post-operative oncology patients. Eligible patients were randomized to receive usual nursing care overnight or sleep-promoting interventions., Results: All thirty-seven surgeons in the organization agreed to let their qualified patients participate. One hundred and forty-four patients met the study criteria. Of those, 117 (81%) consented to participate, while 27 (19%) declined. The primary reason for non-enrollment was wanting to be checked on throughout the night (n = 21, 78%). There were no adverse events during the study period. Patients' perceptions of pain and nausea control among the two groups were equivalent., Conclusion: An intervention to decrease sleep disturbances can be safely executed in a post-operative population while maintaining adequate symptom management., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cubital tunnel syndrome has a spectrum of presentations ranging from mild paresthesias to debilitating numbness and intrinsic atrophy. Commonly, the classification of severity relies on clinical symptoms and slowing of conduction velocity across the elbow. However, changes in compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude more accurately reflect axonal loss. We hypothesized that CMAP amplitude would better predict functional impairment than conduction velocity alone., Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients who underwent a surgical procedure for cubital tunnel syndrome over a 5-year period were included in the study. All patients had electrodiagnostic testing performed at our institution. Clinical and electrodiagnostic variables were recorded. The primary outcome was preoperative functional impairment, defined by grip and key pinch strength ratios. Multivariable regression identified which clinical and electrodiagnostic variables predicted preoperative functional impairment., Results: Eighty-three patients with a mean age of 57 years (75% male) were included in the study. The majority of patients (88%) had abnormal electrodiagnostic studies. Fifty-four percent had reduced CMAP amplitude, and 79% had slowing of conduction velocity across the elbow (recorded from the first dorsal interosseous). On bivariate analysis, older age and longer symptom duration were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with reduced CMAP amplitude and slowing of conduction velocity across the elbow, whereas body mass index (BMI), laterality, a primary surgical procedure compared with revision surgical procedure, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire scores, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain were not. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that reduced first dorsal interosseous CMAP amplitude independently predicted the loss of preoperative grip and key pinch strength and that slowed conduction velocity across the elbow did not., Conclusions: Reduced first dorsal interosseous amplitude predicted preoperative weakness in grip and key pinch strength, and isolated slowing of conduction velocity across the elbow did not. CMAP amplitude is a sensitive indicator of axonal loss and an important marker of the severity of cubital tunnel syndrome. It should be considered when counseling patients with regard to their prognosis and determining the necessity and timing of operative intervention., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The typical daily water intake of common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) in a research setting has not been well characterized. Because these New World primates are in demand as animal models for neurobehavioral experiments, which can include the potential use of fluid regulation for training, veterinary and research staff need to understand how marmosets keep hydrated under normal circumstances. In the current study, we measured the water consumption of older (age, 5 to 12 y; n = 11) and younger (age, 1 to 2 y; n = 11) marmosets every 3 h during the 12-h light phase in 2 different months (January and July). The overall daily water intake (mean ± 1 SD) was 61.3 ± 20.4 mL/kg (range, 36.3 to 99.0 mL/kg); water intake by an individual marmoset or cohoused pair was fairly consistent from day to day. Water intake did not change across the four 3-h periods measured during the day, and minimal water was consumed overnight when the room lights were off. In addition, daily water intake did not differ between the 2 mo of measurements. Older animals drank significantly more than the younger group, and weight was directly correlated with water intake. Water intake was not affected by body condition score or housing status. The variation in water consumption among marmosets underscores the need for individualization of fluid regulation guidelines.

Non-human primates (NHPs) for biomedical research are commonly infected with Shigella spp. that can cause acute dysentery or chronic episodic diarrhea. These animals are often prophylactically and clinically treated with quinolone antibiotics to eradicate these possible infections. However, chromosomally- and plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance has become an emerging concern for species in the family Enterobacteriaceae . In this study, five individual isolates of multi-drug resistant Shigella flexneri were isolated from the feces of three macaques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing confirmed resistance or decreased susceptibility to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, gentamicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, levofloxacin, and nalidixic acid. S. flexneri isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and this drug was used to eradicate infection in two of the macaques. Plasmid DNA from all isolates was positive for the plasmid-encoded quinolone resistance gene qnrS , but not qnrA and qnrB . Conjugation and transformation of plasmid DNA from several S. flexneri isolates into antibiotic-susceptible Escherichia coli strains conferred the recipients with resistance or decreased susceptibility to quinolones and beta-lactams. Genome sequencing of two representative S. flexneri isolates identified the qnrS gene on a plasmid-like contig. These contigs showed >99% homology to plasmid sequences previously characterized from quinolone-resistant Shigella flexneri 2a and Salmonella enterica strains. Other antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factor genes were also identified in chromosome and plasmid sequences in these genomes. The findings from this study indicate macaques harbor pathogenic S. flexneri strains with chromosomally- and plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in S. flexneri isolated from NHPs and warrants isolation and antibiotic testing of enteric pathogens before treating macaques with quinolones prophylactically or therapeutically.

Although zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) have been used in biomedical research for many years, no published reports are available about euthanizing these small birds. In this study, we compared 5 methods for zebra finch euthanasia: sodium pentobarbital (NaP) given intracoelomically with physical restraint but no anesthesia; isoflurane anesthesia followed by intracoelomic injection of NaP; and CO2 asphyxiation at 20%, 40%, and 80% chamber displacement rates (percentage of chamber volume per minute). Birds undergoing euthanasia were videorecorded and scored by 2 observers for behaviors potentially related to discomfort or distress. Time to recumbency and time until respiratory arrest (RA) were also assessed. RA was achieved faster by using NaP in a conscious bird compared to using isoflurane anesthesia followed by NaP; however, neither method caused behaviors that might affect animal welfare, such as open-mouth breathing, to any appreciable extent. Among the CO2 treatment groups, there was an inverse correlation between the chamber displacement rate used and the duration of open-mouth breathing, onset of head retroflexion, and time to RA. The results demonstrate that the intracoelomic administration of NaP in an awake, restrained zebra finch is a rapid and effective method of euthanasia. If CO2 is used to euthanize these birds, a high displacement rate (for example, 80%) will minimize the duration of the procedure and associated behaviors.