Niche partitioning in an assemblage of granivorous rodents, and the challenge of community-level conservation

Coexistence of competing species in the same foraging guild has long puzzled ecologists. In particular, how do small subordinate species persist with larger dominant competitors? This question becomes particularly important when conservation interventions, such as reintroduction or translocation, become necessary for the smaller species. Exclusion of dominant competitors might be necessary to establish populations of some endangered species. Ultimately, however, the goal should be to conserve whole communities. Determining how subordinate species escape competitive exclusion in intact communities could inform conservation decisions by clarifying the ecological conditions and processes required for coexistence at local or regional scales. We tested for spatial and temporal partitioning among six species of native, granivorous rodents using null models, and characterized the microhabitat of each species using resource-selection models. We found that the species’ nightly activity patterns are aggregated temporally but segregated spatially. As expected, we found clear evidence that the larger-bodied kangaroo rats drive spatial partitioning, but we also found species-specific microhabitat associations, which suggests that habitat heterogeneity is part of what enables these species to coexist. Restoration of natural disturbance regimes that create habitat heterogeneity, and selection of translocation sites without specific competitors, are among the management recommendations to consider in this case. More generally, this study highlights the need for a community-level approach to conservation and the usefulness of basic ecological data for guiding management decisions.

Biology and Management of Ragweed Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorous L.) in Tomato, Pepper, Cucurbit, and Strawberry Production

Ragweed parthenium is an herbaceous annual or short-lived perennial weed. It is difficult to manage in many fields due to known resistance to commonly used herbicides. There are a limited number of modes of action that can be used in some vegetable and berry crops. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department provides management recommendations. Written by Nathan S. Boyd, Shaun M. Sharpe, Chris Marble, and Shawn Steed.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep613

2022 European Thyroid Association Guideline for the management of pediatric Graves’ disease

Hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease (GD) is a relatively rare disease in children. Treatment options are the same as in adults – antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) or thyroid surgery, but the risks and benefits of each modality are different. The European Thyroid Association guideline provides new recommendations for the management of pediatric GD with and without orbitopathy. Clinicians should be alert that GD may present with behavioral changes or declining academic performance in children. Measurement of serum TSH receptor antibodies is recommended for all pediatric patients with hyperthyroidism. Management recommendations include the first-line use of a prolonged course of methimazole/carbimazole ATD treatment (3 years or more), a preference for dose titration instead of block and replace ATD, and to avoid propylthiouracil use. Where definitive treatment is required either total thyroidectomy or RAI is recommended, aiming for complete thyroid ablation with a personalized RAI activity. We recommend avoiding RAI in children under 10 years of age but favor surgery in patients with large goiter. Pediatric endocrinologists should be involved in all cases.

Myopia Management

Myopia is already the most common ocular disorder in the world, and its prevalence continues to increase worldwide. Higher myopic refractive errors are associated with an increased risk of vision-threatening complications, which has led to many investigations into the underlying cause of myopia and the mechanisms of myopia progression in order to prevent or delay the onset of myopia and slow its progression. This chapter briefly reviews ocular development and emmetropization, summarizes the known risk factors for myopia onset and myopia progression, reviews current clinical interventions for controlling myopia, and provides practice management recommendations. Finally, instances of syndromic myopia, which have not been shown to be responsive to myopia control treatments, are reviewed.

Pediatric Lower Respiratory Tract Emergencies: Bronchiolitis, Pneumonia, and Asthma

Respiratory illnesses account for a significant proportion of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Respiratory complaints are a common cause of emergency department visits and hospital admissions. They range from mild and self-limited to severe and rapidly progressive. This review discusses the pathophysiology, assessment, stabilization, and management of asthma, community-acquired pneumonia, and bronchiolitis. Given the prevalence of these conditions and the morbidity and mortality attributed to them, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with their presentations and up to date on evidence-based management recommendations. This review contains 7 figures, 25 tables and 80 references Keywords: antibiotics, asthma, bronchiolitis, community-acquired pneumonia, pediatric respiratory, pneumonia, respiratory emergency, respiratory illness, respiratory syncytial virus

SMARCA4-Deficient Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix Resembling SCCOHT—Case Report

Small cell carcinoma of hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare gynaecological neoplasm, originating mostly in the ovaries. Cervical origin of this very aggressive malignancy with unknown histogenesis is an extremely rare condition, without published management recommendations. Alterations in SMARCA4 gene are supposed to play the major role in SCCOHT oncogenesis and their identification is crucial for the diagnosis. Adequate genetic counselling of the patients and their families seems to be of great importance. Optimal management and treatment approaches are not known yet but may extremely influence the prognosis of young female patients that suffer from this very resistant disease. Nowadays, a translational research seems to be the key for the further diagnostic and treatment strategies of SCCOHT. The purpose of the case report is to provide practical information and useful recommendations on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of SMARCA4-deficient carcinoma of the uterine cervix resembling SCCOHT.

Soil fertility management for groundnut in the lowveld of Mpumalanga and north coastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa

Smallholder groundnut production contributes substantially to food security in Mpumalanga Lowveld (MLV) and in Manguzi, the northern coastal plain (NCP) of KwaZulu Natal (KZN), both of which are dominated by infertile structureless sandy soils. A study was conducted to obtain information on the chemical properties of the soils to guide fertilizer management for optimizing groundnut production on these soils. Soil samples were collected from representative sites in MLV and NCP, and analysed for pH, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorous (P), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) in the peg-zone (0-10 cm depth), root zone (10-40 cm depth) and subsoil (40-60 cm depth). The soils were largely acidic, with pH mostly falling below 5.5. The basic cation concentrations were generally low, and so were Zn and Mn concentrations. Nonetheless, with the exception of P and Mn, the soil concentrations of the other nutrients analysed were within ranges considered adequate for vegetative and reproductive growth of groundnut, though Zn was marginally so. General fertility management recommendations to inform agricultural extension are provided for groundnut production on the sandy soils based on the chemical analyses of the soils.

Controlling The Monster: Exploring Constructions Of Women And Their Bodies In Endometriosis Apps

<p>People globally increasingly use digital applications (apps) to manage their health and health conditions. In particular, women commonly use apps to understand and manage female reproductive issues. Some apps target women with endometriosis, a common but poorly understood condition primarily affecting women. The aim of the current research was to explore how endometriosis apps constructed endometriosis and people with endometriosis, how people with endometriosis were positioned, and the potential implications of this positioning for app users. Multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) was used to systematically examine dominant meanings produced by visual and linguistic features (i.e. colour, imagery, text and interactive app functionality) of five endometriosis apps from the USA, New Zealand and Singapore. Results demonstrated that apps drew on biomedical and biological discourses to construct endometriosis as a complex and confusing disease of the female reproductive body. This positioned biomedical and natural health professionals as knowledgeable experts about endometriosis while minimising women’s experiential knowledge of their bodies. Apps drew on intersecting postfeminist, neoliberal and healthist discourses to construct women with endometriosis as responsible for self-tracking many physical, emotional and behavioural experiences. Self-tracking was constructed as generating data that was meaningfully interpreted by app algorithms and experts to help women understand and manage their endometriosis. Dominant management recommendations (i.e. biomedical interventions; lifestyle changes) aligned with hegemonic ideals of traditional and neoliberal femininity. These findings align with previous feminist research findings that mainstream endometriosis discourse reflects androcentric biases in medical knowledge and that health apps targeting women often reinforce neoliberal and postfeminist ideals. Therefore, dominant discourses about endometriosis and female biology that pathologise women’s bodies and behaviours limit the potential for apps to offer women empowered and agentic subject positions.</p>